An investigative journalist has denied her book about Cardinal George Pell distorted the truth and poisoned the public's mind against Australia's most senior Catholic over historical sex offence allegations.
ABC journalist Louise Milligan also rejected claims she tried to pervert the course of justice by publishing the book when charges against Pell, 76, were imminent.
"Your book was intended to pervert the course of justice, was it not?" defence barrister Robert Richter QC said on Tuesday.
"Absolutely not, I reject that entirely," she told Melbourne Magistrates Court.
Ms Milligan denied Mr Richter's suggestion that her book was a "pre-judgment of guilt".
The defence also accused the journalist of omitting important details about a complainant and his allegations in an attempt to "reconcile" inconsistencies that would damage his credibility, which she rejected.
"She distorted what went to the public and she distorted it even moreso in her book, so as to poison the public's mind," Mr Richter said.
Ms Milligan denied trying to convince the public Pell was guilty and his accusers should be believed.
"I wasn't starting out to get the public to believe. That was not my intention," she said.
Mr Richter said: "One of the ways you were trying to get the public to believe things was by blackening and character assassination of Cardinal Pell," Mr Richter said.
"I disagree entirely," Ms Milligan responded.
The journalist spent all day being questioned by Mr Richter about the way she reported the story in a television program and in her book.
She repeatedly said she "stood by the story".
At one point Ms Milligan accused Mr Richter of sexism after he asked whether she had exchanged "charming if not flirtatious" emails with an interviewee.
"I find that absolutely insulting. I think that's a sexist description, Mr Richter," she said.
The barrister said the publication of Ms Milligan's book was brought forward by two months "to beat the charges", but she denied knowing Pell was about to be charged.
"This was your stab at getting an award for great investigative work in a situation where the most serious allegations were just not investigated by you going past those making the accusations," he said.
"I absolutely and emphatically reject that," she replied.
Pell is facing the final week of a committal hearing that will determine if he stands trial on historical sex offence charges involving multiple complainants.
Australian Associated Press
