Lawyers for former Sydney schoolboy Jock Palfreeman urge court to let him leave Bulgaria
Jock Palfreeman’s lawyers have made a desperate appeal in court, as the ex-Sydney schoolboy said he feared he will never return home.
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Jock Palfreeman says he is living in a legal limbo that resembles prison – unable to drive, get a phone or attend his own court case relating to a now-defunct “travel ban” in Sofia.
The 33-year-old’s legal team faced Sofia Administrative Court at midday today local time, demanding that Bulgarian police allow him to leave the country.
Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation is examining an appeal court’s decision to grant him parole, following an unprecedented application from the prosector-general.
The former Sydney private schoolboy has served 11 years of a 20-year sentence since being found guilty of murder and attempted murder in the stabbing of two Bulgarian youths, one of whom died, during a street melee in 2007.
He has always maintained he acted in self-defence.
Palfreeman said since Bulgarian police took his passport in October, he has been unable to enter government buildings, obtain a driver’s licence or sign contracts relating to his mobile phone and internet service provider.
“I always have to go to someone for help, so it’s like prison, because in prison you always need someone else to do these things for you,” he told AAP.
“I can’t be fully independent and have to rely on Bulgarian people to help me.
“But at the same time I’m grateful for my friends’ support in Bulgaria, because without them things would be even worse. I can’t imagine how it would without them.”
The Australian said even if the court found in favour of him, he doubted the decision would allow him to return home.
He pointed to an open letter that was signed by 292 judges and published online, dated September 25 and directed to Bulgaria’s Supreme Judicial Council that defended his release from Sofia Central Prison earlier that month.
“The law allows me to leave the country, they’re just not following the law,” Palfreeman said.
“So if judges say they have to let me leave, what’s to stop them just ignoring the judges again?
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“If we need 300 judges to get me out of prison, what can one judge do to get me out of the country?”.
Palfreeman said an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) representative would monitor today’s hearing.
But the said he is frustrated with the Australian Government’s decision not to issue him another passport and says a similar lack of action was shown when he was previously beaten by Bulgarian prison guards and prevented from studying a course.
“In the name of respecting Bulgaria’s so-called laws, Australia is just helping Bulgaria break the law,” he said.
“It’s illegal to keep me here, but Australia does this every time … they become complicit.” Palfreeman, who is staying with friends in Sofia, said he was well despite the protracted legal uncertainty and was focused on working for the Bulgaria Prisoners Association, a union he founded in 2012.
“I’m continuing to organise with prisoners, engaging with human rights activists and speaking with journalists to get more out into Bulgarian language and society about the reality of Bulgarian prisons,” he said.
“When I’m walking around Sofia, every day a Bulgarian stops me, asks for a photo, or gives me his hand, asks if I’m okay and says he supports me, tells me not to be afraid.”
Originally published as Lawyers for former Sydney schoolboy Jock Palfreeman urge court to let him leave Bulgaria