Contempt charges dropped against three editors in Pell conviction reporting trial

FILE PHOTO: Former Vatican treasurer George Pell arrives after travelling for first time since he was acquitted of child sex abuse charges in Australia, at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Charges against three News Corp online editors were dropped on day four of a trial on allegations that media firms broke an Australia-wide court suppression order on reporting ex-Vatican treasurer George Pell's child sex abuse conviction.

Lawyers for the reporters, radio and TV presenters charged in the case opened their defense on Thursday by submitting to the judge that they have "no case to answer", as the prosecution had failed to present any evidence that the journalists actually "published or caused to be published" the stories in question.