EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

George Pell's defence team is set to trawl through media interviews with people who accuse him of sexual offences, as the lawyers prepare for the court hearing that determines whether the cardinal stands trial.



Cardinal Pell's lawyers have received footage and transcripts from the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan, who has reported on and written a book about the offences allegedly committed by the former Archbishop, Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.



Defence counsel Ruth Shann​ told the court the ABC and Ms Milligan had passed on a hard drive of the footage and transcripts among the material requested by Cardinal Pell's lawyers.



More material is set to be made available later this month, the court heard.



Cardinal Pell, 76, faces charges of historical sexual offences involving multiple complainants. Details of the charges are yet to be revealed.

Cardinal George Pell pictured at Melbourne Magistrates Court in October. Credit:Justin McManus

He has repeatedly denied the alleged offending.

His lawyers have requested legal documents from Victoria Police, victims' advocacy group Broken Rites, the ABC and Ms Milligan, whose book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell was published before Cardinal Pell was charged.