A court case in which Australian Governor-General Peter Hollingworth was accused of raping a woman 40 years ago was dismissed today but he remains under pressure to resign.
Mr Hollingworth stood aside from his largely ceremonial role representing Queen Elizabeth, Australia's head of state, on May 8th after issuing a public denial that he had raped anyone at a church camp in the 1960s.
Victorian Supreme Court Judge Bernard Bongiorno said it was "a matter of forensic reality" that the rape allegation could never be proved. The woman at the centre of the case died in April.
Mr Hollingworth's future has been at risk because of the rape accusation and a church report that found the former archbishop had protected a paedophile priest.Prime Minister John Howard had signalled that Mr Hollingworth (68) would have to address his future in the office once the case was resolved. Mr Howard declined to comment after the case was dismissed.
There was also no immediate comment from Mr Hollingworth's office. Australia's main opposition Labor party immediately renewed calls for Mr Hollingworth to resign.
Opinion polls show 76 per cent of Australians believe he should quit.
