In Gerard Henderson’s must-read Media Watch Dog No. 531 of 26 February 2021, one finds correspondence between Henderson and Gavin Silbert QC, ‘one of Australia’s leading lawyers’, and formerly Victorian Chief Crown Prosecutor (2008-218).

There are three points of interest for me. First, this eminent lawyer with vast experience in Victoria destroys the Milligan mob case against Cardinal Pell. He could not be clearer. He had this to say:

‘I have just finished reading The Persecution of George Pell by Keith Windschuttle which is as good an analysis  as one could hope to find. We lawyers are used to defending clients and interpret their acquittals as a failure of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. I must say, that after reading this I was persuaded that not only was the standard of proof not met, but that Pell was an innocent man.’

Louise Milligan ignores all commentary that does not fit in with her spite and delusion, dismissing her critics as supporters of paedophiles. But even she could not ignore the opinion of someone she quotes approvingly in her book Witness. Silbert in the same correspondence:

‘I am certain that I am the same person interviewed by Louis Milligan for her book Witness  but I have not read the book and am reluctant to comment.‘

The third point of interest is Silbert’s justified criticism of Victoria police.

‘All I would say is that Victoria Police have the sole function of charging in Victoria and their recent practice of attempting to obtain the imprimatur of the DPP and/or Crown Prosecutors is without any legal justification; they have sought to do this of late to protect themselves from criticism particularly in matters of political sensitivity or high public interest. My invariable practice was to tell Victoria Police that it was a matter for them and to refuse to offer any advice.’

When will we have a commission investigating Victoria Police’s role in the Cardinal Pell witch hunt?