Cardinal George Pell was escorted under heavy police guard from the Melbourne Magistrates Court on the morning of Wednesday, July 26, after a brief court appearance in relation to historical child sex offence allegations.

Pell, 76, was charged by Victoria Police on June 29 on multiple complainants’ allegations.

Pell, the third-most senior official in the Holy See, has maintained his innocence.

According to The Australian, Pell’s hearing lasted only six minutes. Credit: Instagram/selectivesights via Storyful