news, national, George Pell, sexual assault, church, Melbourne, Australia, Vatican

George Pell's legal defence team has been denied access to the medical records of the people who have made allegations of sexual offences against him. Magistrate Belinda Wallington on Wednesday said she had to weigh up the whether there was any legal value in letting the defence lawyers look through the accusers' medical records and what harm that might do to the complainants. "I am not persuaded the applications will have a substantial probative value," Ms Wallington ruled in Melbourne Magistrates Court. Cardinal Pell, 76, faces charges of historical sexual offences involving multiple complainants. Details of the charges are yet to be revealed. The court heard on Wednesday one charge related to a key complainant would likely be withdrawn. The cardinal, who was not in court on Wednesday, has repeatedly denied the alleged offending. His lawyers last week applied for access to the medical records of the people who have made allegations, ahead of the four-week hearing that will determine whether the cardinal stands trial. That hearing is due to start on March 5. Prosecutor Mark Gibson, SC, last week told the court the complainants objected to the request for their medical records, as they wanted their privacy maintained. Mr Gibson described the defence request as "a fishing expedition". Cardinal Pell's lawyers have requested medical records relating to one complainant from Justice Health, which provides medical services for Victorian prisoners. But prosecutor Fran Dalziel on Wednesday said that, given the magistrate's ruling, medical records shouldn't be sought via another route. Ms Wallington said she would rule on the Justice Health medical records at a later date. The defence lawyers have also sought legal documents from Victoria Police, law firms, victims' advocacy group Broken Rites, the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan, whose book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell was published before the cardinal was charged. Melbourne University Press withdrew Ms Milligan's book from Victorian shops when Cardinal Pell was charged last year. Defence counsel Ruth Shann said on Wednesday the reliability and credibility of one of the accusers would be tested during the committal hearing, given that man had a "domino effect" on other people contacting police. Cardinal Pell has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to be in Australia to fight the charges. His case will return to court for another administrative hearing next week. The Age

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