Jock Palfreeman: Victim’s family horrified over Aussie’s release

A former Sydney private schoolboy’s parole on a murder sentence in Bulgaria will be challenged by his victim’s family.

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

A former Sydney private schoolboy’s parole on a murder sentence in Bulgaria will be challenged by his victim’s family.

Jock Palfreeman, 32, was released from Sofia Central prison last week into an immigration detention centre when he won an appeal for parole.

He had almost seven years remaining on a 20-year sentence for the stabbing murder of Andrei Monov in a street brawl in Bulgaria in 2007.

However he was also ordered to pay Mr Monov’s family $250,000, which they say has not been paid.

It comes amid protests outside the Sofia City Court from supporters of Mr Monov’s family angry at Palfreeman’s parole.

Palfreeman was expected to be released when he was issued with a new Australian passport, which could have been within days.

Backpacker Jock Palfreeman as a young man travelling in Bulgaria in 2006.

However, Mr Monov’s family has said they will put in a complaint, which has derailed plans for his release.

The parole was meant to be final, with his family in Australia hoping for his return.

Palfreeman attended the exclusive St Ignatius, Riverview and The King’s School.

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.

“Two of the members of this panel of judges hid themselves with a shame that they will bear their whole life, shame that their families and children will bear too, because they delivered a ruling which is not only a shame for Bulgaria’s national self-esteem, but also breaches the law,” he said.

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Mr Monov said he wanted Palfreeman sent back to jail.

He described the Australian as a sociopath who “cannot be repaired and is not safe.”

Mr Monov also slammed the people responsible for the Australian’s early release.

“People like Kalin Kalpakchiev and Vesislava Ivanova have no place in this court. They should do what they want, but not there. I believe in the Bulgarian law, which was totally ruined, abused, and now the institutions on which it depends must act.”

He called for the resignation of the appellate judges that ruled in favour of Palfreeman’s release.

Mr Monov learned about the court decision from a journalist, days after the decision had been made, he said.

“They did everything secretly, this is how dirty people act. They waited so that teams from Australia may come and they can take the bride from the prison, only the gypsy orchestra was missing.

“But a black cat crossed their way.”

Originally published as Jock Palfreeman: Victim’s family horrified over Aussie’s release