Sun, Nov 22 2009

Palfreeman case back in court

Mon, Sep 28 2009 12:40 CET 1112 Views 9 Comments
Palfreeman case back in court

Jock Palfreeman.

The long-awaited case against Australian national Paul "Jock" Palfreeman, accused of stabbing to death a 20-year-old in Sofia in December 2007, returns to Sofia City Court on September 28 2009.

Paul "Jock" Palfreeman, 22, is charged with the murder of law student Andrei Monov after a street brawl in the capital Sofia at the end of 2007. He has also been charged with attempted murder over the alleged stabbing of a 19-year-old during the fight.

Palfreeman, from Sydney, denies both charges and says he was trying to defend himself from a group of men when he intervened after seeing them attack a group of Roma.

Earlier this year, a controversial Australian documentary, entitled One Night in Sofia, questioned events surrounding Monov's death and Palfreeman's ensuing prosecution. 

One Night in Sofia painted a grim portrait of the Bulgarian capital as a violent city fanned by ultra-nationalism and racism against the Roma minority.

The programme also featured prominently Palfreeman's father, Dr Simon Palfreeman, an Australian pathologist. The defence has demanded that Dr Palfreeman serve as his lawyer in the case.

A bail plea issued by Palfreeman last year was rejected on the basis that the defendant was, reputedly, of an aggressive disposition. 

Comments

Anonymous observer Sun, Oct 04 2009 15:55 CET
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The CCTV footage does not show him stabbing anyone (as presented at the last court date)
There are independant witnesses that saw the gang attacking someone before palfreeman comes on the scene
It does not matter whether he is anglo saxon or Bulgarian, if the court proves he went to the aid of someone been beaten by a gang of drunken violent youths, then he is a hero.
Also questions should be asked as to why the civil claimants (including one of the actual gang that is also a key witness) and the prosecutor have been blocking acess to key evidence (namely the signed police statements of key witnesses)if they have nothing to hide

Anonymous valeri Tue, Sep 29 2009 02:43 CET
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Slavho you make no sense.
What are you trying to say?

Anonymous slav4o Mon, Sep 28 2009 23:53 CET
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i'm so sick of this! Now there's actually video proof that his story is true! Why can't we just lock him up for life despite the evidence!

Anonymous Valeri Mon, Sep 28 2009 22:40 CET
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This is not the first time this "Jock the Knife" has done this:

"In Sydney, James Atack, of Lane Cove North, who was quoted in The Daily Telegraph yesterday saying that Palfreeman had stabbed him and another youth at a party in Chatswood in 2004, confirmed to the Herald yesterday he had been quoted correctly and it was true. In his quoted statement, he said he had complained to the police but the police had not laid charges through lack of evidence. Questioned by the Herald, Mr Atack said: “I am not quite comfortable talking about this. Me and my friend agreed we would talk to each other before talking to the press again.”

Anonymous Valeri Mon, Sep 28 2009 22:30 CET
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I am getting sick and tired of Anglo-Saxons coming to BG, committing violent crimes and then getting off by vilifying Bulgaria.

I hope they don't let this one "serve" time in Australia.

Преглед на профил TSE Moderator Mon, Sep 28 2009 17:31 CET
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Raptor, he can be indicted on two separate counts, which is what appears to be the case. He is not accused of attempted murder and murder of the same person, rather the murder of Andrei Monov and the attempted murder of another youth, whose identity is not being disclosed. Hope that helps to clear the confusion.

Anonymous Raptor Mon, Sep 28 2009 15:16 CET
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Yes but can can't charge someone for two separate offences relating to the same events or facts. It is called duplicity of charges.

There are many reasons for this, one is the burden of proof since if the prosecution obtain a conviction for say murder, then automatically relives him of the attempted murder charge. Otherwise, how could he be convicted for murder and not convicted for attempted murder on the same set of facts. You see my point!

Anonymous Sofia Echo Mon, Sep 28 2009 14:00 CET
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Attempted murder charge relates to a separate alleged stabbing, another offence.

Thanks

Anonymous Raptor Mon, Sep 28 2009 13:12 CET
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How is it possible to "charge" someone for murder and attempted murder at the same time?

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Australian programme One Night in Sofia, to the accompaniment of a haunting soundtrack, presents a grim portrait of Bulgaria as a backward state with a pliable judiciary

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Memorial procession in Sofia on anniversary of death of man allegedly killed by Australian

A memorial procession was to be held on December 28 2008 in Sofia to honour the memory of Andrei Monov, who died in a stabbing incident a year ago.

TO THE EDITOR: More on Palfreeman

On reading your letters section, I could hardly believe my eyes seeing such blatantly, anti-Bulgarian, racial comments by your readers (Letters to the Editor, The Sofia Echo, January 11 2008). The first one called the knife-wielding Australian brave. Ridiculous! Why was he carrying a knife in the first place if not to use it? Let's not forget that he killed someone. Anyway, I'm sure he will get a fair trial and justice will prevail.

Charges against Australian accused of murder could be downgraded - Australian media

The murder charge against Australian Jock Palfreeman could be downgraded amid new evidence that he was in "a state of rage" at the time of the incident, Australian daily Herald Sun said. Palfreeman has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Andrei Monov and wounding a second man in a fight on December 28 2007. Australian daily Herald Sun said authorities were considering a lesser charge after the woman who was with Palfreeman on the night of the murder, returned to Sofia and was interrogated by police.

Sofia court denies bail to Palfreeman

Australian Paul "Jock" Palfreeman, accused of the stabbing murder of Andrei Monov and attempted murder of Anton Zahariev, was denied bail by the Sofia Appeals Court on January 8. Monov died on his way to the hospital on December 28 2007, after having been stabbed in the back with a knife by Palfreeman. Zahariev was injured in the same incident. Palfreeman has denied the accusations, claiming he acted in self-defence when the men turned on him after he intervened in a fight between the men and a Roma.

Consular officials visited Australian in custody in Bulgaria over stabbing

Consular officials from the Australian embassy in Athens flew to Sofia on Monday December 31 2007 to see Paul "Jock" Palfreeman, who was held in custody on the accusation of a stabbing murder. Palfreeman has been charged with murder and attempted murder after a brawl in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on December 28, Australian daily Heraldsun said. Palfreeman had been arrested after allegedly fatally stabbing 20-year-old Andrei Manov, the son of prominent local psychotherapist Hristo Manov, during a brawl, the newspaper said.

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