Palfreeman’s dad speaks of relief after parole decision
Jock Palfreeman’s father has spoken of his relief after the Sydney man was granted parole from a Bulgarian prison after more than a decade behind bars. However, dad Simon said the family is still in the dark about what happens next.
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The father of Jock Palfreeman who has been granted parole after more than a decade in a Bulgarian prison has spoken of his relief.
Mr Palfreeman, who grew up in Mosman, was convicted of murder but always maintained he was acting in self-defence.
He was sentenced to 20 years for fatally stabbing student Andrei Monov.
“This is a long day coming,” his father Dr Simon Palfreeman told the Mosman Daily.
“We finally got a court that will give Jock some justice.”
Palfreeman was unexpectedly granted bail by a panel of three judges.
It is not yet known when he will be able to return home or leave jail.
“It’s a good decision for Jock,” he said.
“We are very much in the dark about what this means in practice and what this means for Jock now.”
Dr Freeman is a Newcastle-based pathologist and previously lived in Mosman.
Two days after Christmas in 2007, while on holidays in Bulgaria, Palfreeman witnessed the assault of two Romany people by a group of about 20 football fans.
Going to the men’s aid, he was allegedly attacked by the group and wielded the knife in order to protect himself.
Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said the parole decision was wonderful news for the family.
“The family never gave up on Jock,” Cr Corrigan said.
“I’d imagine the family are so relieved and thrilled. It’s a long period to be incarcerated.”
Cr Corrigan and Palfreeman’s mother dentist Mary Jane Palfreeman were in school together. She also served on Mosman Council in the early ‘90s.
The Freedom for Jock Palfreeman Facebook page was filled with comments from people today who have been following his case.
“The moment we have all been waiting for during the last 12 years!,” Dessi Tzoneva from Bulgaria said.
Shayne Frost, who cared for him when he was a young child at the Northern Nursery School in Mosman, was also relieved on hearing the news.
She remembers him as a joyous, happy little boy and hopes he is surrounded by love and support when he is eventually released from jail.
“I’m so happy for him,” Ms Frost said.
“I hope he can get back to having a life after what he has been through.”
Palfreeman grew up in Mosman and attended the prestigious schools St Ignatius’ College Riverview and The King’s School Parramatta.
The lower north shore rallied ahead of his trial in 2009.
His friends Ashleigh Hart and Marty Silk organised a meeting to tell people about his case.
A website freejock.net was also set up to ask people to write to MPs.
His brother Spencer Palfreeman spoke to the Mosman Daily that year about how difficult it was for the family after finding out about the arrest through the media. He travelled many times to visit his brother in Bulgaria.
He also has a younger brother Angus.
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