30-day wait for Jock Palfreeman appeal verdict

(source: http://avtonom.org/en/node/14664)

A verdict in the appeal case against Jock Palfreeman’s 20-year jail sentence is due to be handed down in the next 30 days. A final hearing in the appeal trial was held in a Bulgarian court last night, 19th of January.

Palfreeman, raised in Mosman, was last year found guilty of murdering Bulgarian student Andrei Monov, 20, and severely wounding Anton Zahariev, 19, during a fight in 2007. His lawyers lodged an appeal, saying the verdict was not based on correct evidence.

Let us recall, that Jock Palfreeman was a 21 year old Australian visiting friends for Christmas in Sofia, Bulgaria, when he found himself caught up in a situation which has left him serving a 20 year sentence.

On the 27th of December 2007, had the courage to stand up against 16 Nazis on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria. He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to the boys’ aid, he did his best to keep the Nazis at bay by waving a knife at them but they attacked him. (Sofia can be a dangerous place and Jock had only decided to carry a knife after being assaulted in the street  on more than one occasion). The Nazis turned on Jock. He was beaten, kicked and hit with rocks. He was sustaining severe injuries and was left with nowhere to run. He had no choice but to defend himself. Andrey Monov (one of the Nazis) received a knife wound whilst beating Jock, he later died.  Anton Zahariev (another) was injured. The Roma boys ran away. Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment

You can sign a petition in support of Jock here

Also You can write to the prisoner, the address is:

Jock Palfreeman

Sofia Central Prison

21 General Stoletov Boulevard

Sofia 1309, BULGARIA