Jock Palfreeman’s parole: 292 judges back him as new court challenge looms in Bulgaria

Jock Palfreeman has always said he acted in self-defence when he stabbed another man in Bulgaria. The Aussie says newly-released CCTV supports his claim.

A new video has been published that supports some of Australian Jock Palfreeman’s claims that he was trying to help two gypsies who were attacked by a group of men when he killed a man in Bulgaria.

The former Sydney private school boy remains in the Busmantsi Immigration Detention Centre in Bulgaria awaiting a crucial hearing on Monday.

He had been granted parole with seven years remaining on his sentence for the murder of Andrei Monov, 20, in 2007.

But the 32-year-old’s case has been reopened and his parole was at risk of being revoked in what his lawyer has claimed was an unprecedented move in 130 years of Bulgarian legal history.

CCTV footage from the night Jock Palfreeman stabbed a man in Bulgaria in 2007.

The video, posted to YouTube this week, was shown to his lawyers earlier this year.

The footage shows a group of men chasing at least one man in a square in Bulgaria.

Palfreeman has claimed that his victim, Mr Monov, was among the group and that the footage could have changed the result of his 2009 trial.

“The prosecution in the court said that there was no violence … and of course to top it all off there was no motivation for my random attack,” he told the ABC.

“And so after seeing the video it’s clear that there is violence minutes before Andrei Monov dies, and under Bulgarian law the convictions for a death during violence are substantially lower.”

Palfreeman claimed that he had taken a knife he was carrying out to use to scare the group of men away from the gypsies who were being attacked.

He has previously said he did not remember stabbing anyone.

Kalin Angelov, representing Palfreeman in Monday’s hearing, wants his court-ordered parole to stand and for him to be able to be deported back to Australia.

Krassimir Kanev, Palfreeman’s lawyer in a previous case, said he has spoken to the Australian and he was upset and angry that his parole was being reconsidered.

Palfreeman organised prisoners into a union while in jail and advocated for improvements to their conditions.

He also learned to speak Bulgarian while in jail.

Jock Palfreeman being led from Sofia Central Prison in Bulgaria. Picture: Supplied

292 JUDGES BACK PALFREEMAN’S PAROLE

Palfreeman’s family were told the parole was not able to be appealed, but his victim’s father Hristo Monov has led a noisy campaign, including protests outside court against the decision.

This has prompted the Bulgarian Union of Judges to write to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) that oversees the judiciary.

In its open letter, dated September 25, it said: “It is in exactly cases such as this that the judge needs to have the unconditional and steadfast support by the institution appointed for that purpose — the SJC — as this the only way that we can uphold the rule of the law and the independence of the judiciary.

“Instead the Bulgarian judge receives a clear and categorical sign that if they don’t rule in accordance with the public opinion and wills of the political parties and their specific political leaders they are going to be abused, vilified, physically persecuted and maltreated and the only reaction of the [SJC] will be co-operation in their disciplinary persecution.

“Your actions … are in breach of all generally accepted global principles of a democratic lawful country with an established rule of the law and separation of powers as well as a crude failure in performing your professional duties.”

Inside Bulgaria's Pazardjik prison where Jock Palfreeman has spent his time. Picture: Supplied/Bulgarian Prisons Association

The letter calls on the SJC to resign if it does not defend the three appellate judges, the ABC reports.

Two days later the SJC responded: “Independence is not a prerogative of the judiciary and a privilege of the judge; it is there to serve the interests of those who seek or expect justice because the subjective and lawful review of court cases is essential to a democratic society.”

The Australian’s father Simon Palfreeman said that Jock’s case was now a political football.

“I think what’s been happening in Bulgaria is that the whole thing has become very political,” he told the ABC.

“It does really require someone like our Prime Minister Scott Morrison to actually speak out on behalf of Jock, and even pick up the phone and maybe have a talk to (Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko) Borissov.”

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has raised concerns with her Bulgarian counterpart at the United Nations about Palfreeman’s ongoing detention

“Given the parole decision, consular officials will continue engaging with the Bulgarian government on his situation and arrangements for his release,” Senator Payne said.

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Jock Palfreeman had almost seven years remaining on a 20-year murder sentence. Picture: Supplied/Bulgarian Prisons Association

The former Sydneysider attended St Ignatius Riverview and The King’s School.

He was on holiday when he said he went to the aid of a gypsy who was being attacked by a group of men.

Palfreeman joined in a brawl and was convicted of stabbing Andrei Monov, 20, with a knife he was carrying.

Andrei’s father, Hristo Monov, announced the complaint in a Tuesday morning interview on Bulgarian television.

He claimed Palfreeman’s parole was a violation of the law despite the court ruling.

Palfreeman told News Corp journalist Ellen Whinnett in a jail house interview in 2017 that he feared no-one was helping him.

“I have got no-one behind me,’’ he said.

Jock Palfreeman’s father says his son’s case was now a “political football”. Picture: Supplied.

“You know what’s ironic? David Hicks (supported) the Taliban and there was more public support for him in Australia than there has ever been for me.’’

When asked in 2017 if he thought he would get parole, Palfreeman said: “Ten years? It’s a difficult question. I think they will reject my request ….no one believes I will go free next year.’’

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Originally published as Jock Palfreeman’s parole: 292 judges back him as new court challenge looms in Bulgaria