I read more about the case. What kind of a person carries a 30 cm long knife? Why is it a surprise that someone that knifes a person goes to prison? Why is a murder being sent to prison such a surprise? If this happened in many US states he would be facing the electric chair.
I saw a video about this one by a foreign news orginization-funny they never mention that this monster stabbed another human being to death. Just a story about a poor australian in prison.
How did the father of the [...]

Read the full comment victim coupt the system?
Everyone that wrote these stupid comments about Bulgaria-you are an embarassement.

Monov's mother had earlier told the court: "It's totally abnormal for a young man of this age to go out in the downtown of a capital city with no ID, no mobile phone, but with a 30cm knife and a screwdriver. The blow he dealt to my son was that of a professional killer."
My heart goes out to the victims mother an father for their loss. Too bad he did not try this in Texas instead of Bulgaria. Bulgaria gave this killer 20 years-Texas executes killers.

I have spent a lot of time in Bulgaria an its a country that I really like a lot. I never had any problems when I was in the country an to be honest I ont know a lot about this case.
One thing I wonder is why this person intervened at all when he saw someone attack roma. Its a horrible incident but as a foreigner he would have been better to stay out of it. He could have called the police for instead of acting like a policeman.
I dont know any country in [...]

Read the full comment the world where you can kill someone their and not have horrible punishment.
My personel opinion is that this individual killed someone an should be in prision. When he does get out hopefully he never visits america as a tourist-we dont need anyone killing our citezens while he plays policeman. He should have just called 211 on his cell phone.
Bulgaria is a great country an the people are really great.

Stupid Valery, deal! We let you rule instead of us. We close tomorrow the US. Let Bulgaria take its role and you are proclaimed as of today a President of the Bulgarian United States of rats with a gold tooth. Down with Obama. Down with everything. Long live stupid Valery and the CCCP who taught him to think he is something. As one said, save some money and take a taxi to where you live and just listen to the driver. It'll be a revelation ‘cause your definitely very thick - typical for an East European, your achievements are anyway [...]

Read the full comment too low to compare with any Western country guy and U know it. Go hunt a tripe.

I can definitely see how you would have run into these types of stupid comments in the U.S. regarding what kind of country they think Bulgaria is. They just have no idea. This is assuming that these same people had any idea where Bulgaria actually is (I have been asked many times). I just think it's really rude to insult someone's country, doubly more so if you've never even been there.

I think you are 100% correct in saying that any corruption present here is generally to assist the crooks in getting off, not to put [...]

Read the full comment away an innocent person. I still keep going back to his previous record, it speaks volumes.

Oh, Americans weren't rude at all. They were attempting to be very receptive and welcoming, in their own way. But to me, as a person and not to BG. I think they assumed that I should be glad to be "an American", but that's because, I think, I come from BG and in their idea it's not a such a nice place.

In fact if I end up killing someone in BG, I know at least 4-5 Americans who would do much to save me from the corrupt and incompetent Bulgarian justice system - I am [...]

Read the full comment not kidding! What they don't realize is that whatever corruption there is here, more often than not, helps crooks walk free, not imprisoning innocent men. If BG was that corrupt, Jock would be busy slashing his next throat at some white trash outback party, instead of negotiating between boyfriends in the Bulgarian prison...

Val, I had to laugh a bit when you mention that Americans were constantly telling you that you are just like an American, because my Bulgarian friends in the U.S. have told me that I am not a 'typical American'. Anyway, I am really sorry though that people were so rude to you during your stay. I just hate that behavior. I also hope that you were not in my home state of Wisconsin, where I like to think that we are a bit more open minded and welcoming.

That being said, I got really sick [...]

Read the full comment of this same mentality we encountered when we were living in Australia. They were also constantly telling me how great their country was, how crappy mine was, etc. etc. Trust me, I was never asking for their opinion. I don't even want to repeat the remarks they made when I would tell people we were coming to Bulgaria. They just couldn't comprehend that we would actually leave Australia for Bulgaria.

Regarding that Italy case, personally, I think this girl is guilty. If she's convicted, as in this case here in Bulgaria, I do not assume that there is some flaw in the system. Honestly, I wonder if countries aren't extra careful when trying foreign citizens so as to avoid any problems down the road. But, on this, I am just postulating.

"What I personally find so problematic is the moral superiority with which some Europeans attempt to lecture me about current U.S. conduct in the world."

I am not one of those people.

Interestingly it's the moral lecturing coming from the States that I dislike the most - not them going around killing Arabs - that has nothing to do with me.

Throughout my stay in the US I was subjected to borderline orgasmic American chest beating from all sides - the greatest! Americans treat Bulgarians who live there [...]

Read the full comment pretty good, but that's because they automatically assume that they aspire to be like them - Americans. Can't tell you how many times I've been punched in the arm - nah you are American! Go argue.. They are very abusive to the country of Bulgaria though, (and not just BG) in news, ads, casual conversations and so forth. It's the constant put down of other countries, I think in order to feel better about themselves, that is the point. Zero respect for judicial systems, governments - anything that's foreign! The first knee-jerk reaction is to focus on the country instead of the crime that one of them committed. As if no American (or Brit or Australian) can be given a fair trial outside their country. We are not talking Afghanistan either - Italy is a first rate society with strong institutions, that has managed to keep it's murder rate to 1/6th of that in the US.

"Call me corny, but personally, I am proud of where I am from. For me, this does not mean that my country is better than any other, but is simply my home and I love it, flaws and all."

That is foreign to me. How can any person be "proud" of a country. Or ashamed for that matter. Very little of it's attributes or flaws are connected to you personally. You are just one person making your way through life the best you can and place of birth is chance. Nor can you possible know too many folks in yours or any other country, in order to be proud of them, or ashamed.. This is actually the tribal element I was talking about.

Val, perhaps you missed my point. What I personally find so problematic is the moral superiority with which some Europeans attempt to lecture me about current U.S. conduct in the world.

So for me, whether a country bullies it's neighbors or it's own minorities, it's the same premise. I just find it to be a very hypocritical position. Examples of this around Europe are plenty. Both now and throughout history.....this is power politics. Every country, if given the chance, can and will exert it's influence. Right now, love it or hate it, it's the U.S. I [...]

Read the full comment attribute this current unilateralism to many factors, but largely I think it's due to the vacuum left after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Call me corny, but personally, I am proud of where I am from. For me, this does not mean that my country is better than any other, but is simply my home and I love it, flaws and all. Extreme nationalism, which is alive and well in many places around the world (including the U.S), I find to be a twisted mentality. To take Bulgaria as an example, Bulgarians have a lot to be proud of. Bulgaria is a beautiful country with an extremely rich and complex historical and cultural heritage. I come from a country of immigrants, including Bulgarians, who did not just immigrate recently because the U.S. is a rich country now. I just don't have a problem with immigrants.....right now I am one myself.

So anyway, back to this convicted Australian........

"If Europe is full of so many geniuses why are so many of it's countries still plagued with problems?"

Every country has problems. You have crime, we have corruption.. Quite frankly, I dislike the corny pride most Americans take in their country. There's nothing special about people coming to you either. They flock to any wealthier country - BG will start seeing more immigration in the near future and that will not be a good thing, just like it isn't in the US. You are not special - country like country, increasingly broke and increasingly non-white.. [...]

Read the full comment you have been relatively important for about 100 years , which is really a snapshot in historical term - nothing.

Sure there are many dumb people in BG - I don't associate with too many such, but the fact is that BG doesn't attempt teach and lead the world. The US sets itself for attacks by believing in something most Europeans (except perhaps the Serbs) scrapped after WWI - in their own exceptionalism.

It's not the US as much as I notice it in the English speaking countries in general - that's why I gave the US as an inclusive example, not to single it out. I think it has to do with geography which has helped them all not really participate in a major conflict - until the war is on your soil, you know no war - but every one from England to the US and obviously Australia, don't have the benefit of the terrible consequences of excessive patriotism and that of the need to question and rethink their own imagined greatness. (in the case of the Serbs - they are just slow learners).

So the belated natural sense of your country's moral standing and righteousness, as the result of an accident of geography actually, is in many ways what sets them a part.

The attack on other countries legal systems, laws, traditions and way of life, is but an expression of that...

Interesting Val....but not quite on point.

My comments are directed towards a particular type of European who believes themselves to be intellectually and culturally superior, not Bulgarians in general. I was beginning to see a "pattern" emerging in the comments and I just find that type of mentality so tedious. If Europe is full of so many geniuses why are so many of it's countries still plagued with problems?

Come on, be serious...do you really think that no Bulgarian would say something so similarly simple?? I think you need to get out [...]

Read the full comment and talk to more of your compatriots. Stupidity knows no boundaries. I have travelled around the world enough to know that this is not a uniquely American phenomenon.

The U.S. military is present in many places around the world, we all know why. I am talking about individuals, so if you, as an individual, don't like Americans or our country, then save yourself the plane fare, we are ok with this. While conversely, I am proud to say that there are thousands of Bulgarians living in the U.S. Personally, I think it's great to have so many people from all over the world in my country.

I have no idea what the gory details are of the Knox court case in Italy. From what I have read (which admittedly has not been much) in the press it sounds as though they are all guilty, or at least they know who is. You are seemingly smart enough to know how sensationalist the press can be! We all know the real reason anyone is even bothering to pay attention to this trial....the lurid details! People commit horrendous murders inside and outside of their countries.

Back to this Australian, when the story first broke in Australia, the press did portray it as a hapless foreigner trapped by the Bulgarian legal system. But really, when you learn about his previous track record, as I did, most normal people stopped listening. I think you might find the same thing with this Italian case. Trust me, something else will come along to distract us all again.

The Valeri... You are funny dude.I think that you need to get out more. Pack up your bag and go to Banishora and start having conversations with the real Bulgarians. Stop writing so much, work a bit more, make a bit more money, start taking cabs, and talk to the cab drivers. May be even go to a chalga club, you may learn something (I know you have never been to one). All of the expat you are preaching to at least have left their bubble and they have come not to France but have come to Bulgaria. Give them [...]

Read the full comment a bit of credit, will you.

Expat:

"How did a post about an Australian convicted of murder come to discuss the United States?"

I brought it up to illustrate the pattern, as the topic in the Amanda Knox' case is quickly becoming the Italian justice system, and Italian backwardness and incompetence, instead of the crime committed.

"I just have to laugh at the intellectual and cultural snobbery I find so pervasive among certain types of Europeans when it comes to my country."

Any clues as to why that is? Here's [...]

Read the full comment one: "Yank": "God bless them! And the Americans made the technology to put a man on the moon. Did you ever, stupid Valeri think if Bulgarians could do that?"

I frankly don't know a Bulgarian simple enough to express that line of thought. Purely American phenomena, and certainly a forceful boost to my Bulgarian ego...

"If you don't like the U.S., and believe yourselves to be superior, no problem. Don't go there. We'll do just fine if you never step foot in our country."

Except that you are in BG. Military bases, CIA centers and so on... not so simple, is it....

It is time for the John Smith to speak again. I believe that who is actually at fault for this entire situation is Bulgaria. If the stupid Australian Palfreeman wanted to go to stupid America, he may have found that a challenge because of a little question during your visa application asking if you have a prior criminal record. On the other hand, if any stupid American wanted to go to stupid Australia with similar history, he would not be able to go because of a simple question about criminal past. Well.. all welcome to smart Bulgaria. I am thanking [...]

Read the full comment the Jesus though that Bulgaria is a Balkan country and not European, Australian or American. How about them Canadians. What about them Canadians? All of you left out the Canadians.

How did a post about an Australian convicted of murder come to discuss the United States? Anyway, I just have to laugh at the intellectual and cultural snobbery I find so pervasive among certain types of Europeans when it comes to my country. If you don't like the U.S., and believe yourselves to be superior, no problem. Don't go there. We'll do just fine if you never step foot in our country. It's blatantly obvious that many European countries have their own set of very special problems that they have to overcome. Meanwhile, I wouldn't recommend holding your breath for [...]

Read the full comment my country's 'impending demise'.

As to the controversy surrounding this case, there is no country with a perfect legal, penal (or educational) system. I was living in Australia when this happened and it was known from the start that this man had previous encounters with law enforcement due to violent behavior. Enough said.

No Dan,
this is not about a system.
It's about a man with history of knife stabbings, walking around a strange land with a 30sm knife and stabbing someone.
The foreign system is in your mind, the real story is about antisocial behavior...

A little late I know, but as an Australian I want justice to be done. If he is guilty then he must pay the penalty of the land. If he is not guilty then he must be set free. I suppose the difficulty lies in the fact that as observers of the process we are subject to a foreign system, which some claim is undermined by flaws, while others claim it is fine. I pray that what has happened in the Bulgarian court was fair and reflects the events that took place that night.

Mindless patriotism [...]

Read the full comment of all flavours is pointless and serves no-one.

"Yank"

"Hey stupid Valeri, of course there is American exceptionality."

LOL;)
thanks for the laugh;) Well it's called "exceptionalism", in the ideological context commonly used, not exceptionality, and its' grounded in a belief system not reality. That said, I do want to thank you for the wonderful illustration here, of the core reasons behind the impending American demise - the fact that reasoning like yours in the US, are hardly the "exceptionality";)))

Also it's not called a "penal" system, but "justice" system. Penal is the prison [...]

Read the full comment system, not the courts.

Do hang around though - participating in a Bulgarian forum, can certainly help you pick up where your educational system (not to be mistaken for the penal system) left off;)))

"Pure nothing plus many excuses and brainwash talk. All anti-American feelings come just out of jealousy"

Jealousy of what? As European I don't find anything in USA which I would be even a bit jealous. What comes to brainwashed people in my opinion USA is one of the leading countries on that area...

Hey stupid Valeri, of course there is American exceptionality. They were the only country to press hard in favour of arrested westerners during the cold war. God bless them! And the Americans made the technology to put a man on the moon. Did you ever, stupid Valeri think if Bulgarians could do that? Or Australians? But you want equality. Won't get it, dummy, grow up. By the way Australia is not USA and behaves badly with its own nationals in foreign jails - look what they did to help the unlucky Shapelle Corbi? Pure nothing plus many excuses and brainwash [...]

Read the full comment talk. All anti-American feelings come just out of jealousy. Both Australian and Bulgarian penal systems are primitive.

I'm not insulting anyone. I'm stating just a few facts where there have been so many lies. Jock was carrying his wallet, phone and ID; Andrei wasn't stabbed in the back (the wound was under his arm which was raised at the time - why?); cctv footage was erased TWICE - why?; there was no forensic investigation of the scene - why?; the witnesses' statements in court differed wildly from their signed statements given to police after the night why?

Too many other anomalies to mention here.

It's convenient to make up [...]

Read the full comment facts to suit the outcome that you want which is exactly what the prosecution has got away with.

I just watched (ABC on line) Amanda Knox's father attack and condem the Italian justice system... He said he will continue to fight the injustice and she will be freed!
He's probably right in his prediction, because history show us that very vew white Anglos serve for crimes committed abroad.
Eventually the whole tribe mobilizes and their governments apply pressure.
The whole conversation is about Italy and Italian incompetence. In fact, the words "shame on Italy" were said.

Interestingly enough, the family of her British victim praised Italian justice - [...]

Read the full comment the point here is the inherant racism lurking in the minds of people, that promps them to condem foreign counties so casually at moments like that...

Seriously JD,
insult the victim's mother.
How low would the Anglos go?

Mrs Monov is grieving for her son but she is also a liar. Of course Jock had his wallet, mobile phone and ID on the night - all were confiscated by the police. So many facts reported in the media are simply not true and most completely ignored by the court. The boys in the group all lied - their evidence in court was inconsistent and contradicted their original statements which were not allowed in the court. Clearly the police investigation was compromised by the Monov family as they see the court process as a means of revenge not justice. [...]

Read the full comment

I lived in Bulgaria for two years I am now living in Australia. I have to say that I felt safer living in Bg than Australia. Australia has I'm afraid to say quite a culture of drunken violent youths.

"Valeri, you have got to be the greatest idiot in this country."

I doubt that I am the greatest of anything anywhere, but at least we share a favorite topic - me.

"You are giving all Bulgarians a bad name."

I am so glad you are NOT racist and NOT prone to generalizing. In what enlighten world can one person give ALL a bad name? I am observing a pattern of comments coming from Brits Australians and Americans, not what one person does. One person, any person, hardly [...]

Read the full comment merits the bother of discussing here...

Valeri, you have got to be the greatest idiot in this country. Please keep your racist comments to yourself. You are giving all Bulgarians a bad name. Thankfully we are not all like you: racist and angry at life.

"What a racist you are, Val."

Yeah of course, make it about me. What is it with people living in those countries? All about personalities and individuals? Like life is one endless TV drama...

Valeri has just condemded the whole "English speaking world". That's a lot of folks in Africa, India, USA, Canada, Central America, etc.
What a racist you are, Val. In another culture you would be wearing a hood and sheet and burning crosses at night.
Watch out, you ATAKA card is showing.

He got a twenty year sentence because the Father was "distinguished Bulgarian psychiatrist Hristo Monov" and the victim was a law student. The outcome would have been close to the same if it was held in Australia.

As for Bulgaria having a corrupt legal system? lmao. I'd suggest you people look at your own before casting aspersions.

The Aussies are great people. Crime there does not exist. There is also no racism in Australia. They don't drink. They never fight. The man must be innocent.
Dundee would have taken 20 people with a knife any day.

Aha,
well, I base it on observations:
"It is true that there is a natural assumption that their citizens are always innocent - irrespective of the evidence."

Very few Bulgarians would place nationality before evidence. That is the definition of tribalism and it goes against our European culture.
Are there some Bulgarians that see it differently? Probably. Still. I've never heard one express that believe.
Criminals are criminals. Nationality is nationality. 99% of all criminals usually hurt people from their own nationality. Usually before apprehended [...]

Read the full comment abroad, most Bulgarian criminals have done plenty damage to their own people, as do Australian and Chinese. That guy had knife incidents before. He will in the future too, if Bulgaria lets him go, because anti-social behavior is rarely an isolated incident.

I am appalled at the casual ease with which Anglos put nationality before evidence. I think that comes from inherent sense of superiority or what the Americans like to call "American exceptionalism"...
Frankly, from my observations, it isn't strictly American phenomena, but English speaker's habit. It must come from some English sense of divine mission on this earth or something, that probably spans from the colonial days.
If noting that makes me nationalistic - be it.

valeri

Your words "We disapprove of acting in a tribal manner, like Brits and apparently Australian s do, but wouldn't dream of banning it in any way. "

Enough of the bs: here is what is real.

1. Jock was carrying a 30cm knife. No sane person I know does that in Sofia, or Washington, or any major city in the world. Simply stupid. With this logic, I guess I should carry a 30cm knife when I visit Australia, since Palfreeman is saying Australia is a dangerous place and you need protect.
2. Probably both parties were guilty of something, but Palfreeman killed him and survived. Regardless of where this happened, Palfreeman killed a man. That's manslaughter, most likely involuntary in this [...]

Read the full comment case.
3. Bulgaria isn't perfect, especially the legal system. But to say this Aussie is innocent for killing a man in a drunken brawl fight is ridiculous. If Palfreeman had done this in Australia, he would be facing a lenghty prison sentence.
4. It is very 'convenient' to have Palfreeman not remember anything from the incident.
5. If Manov survived and killed Palfreeman in a drunken brawl fight, I wonder what the Australian reaction to this case would be if Manov was convicted for 20 years a drunken brawl.
6. In the end, it comes down to: don't do stupid shit in your country or a foreign country. Both were drunk and did something stupid. Manov died, and Palfreeman will suffer time in jail. In the end, both made a terrible mistake that will affect their families and Palfreeman's life forever.

Too bad:

"This has nothing to do wiht nationalism. Sorry to say, but the country is corrupt."

That's what I am talking about. Attack the country, when one of yours commits a crime there - that's the tribal pattern I am observing. So if it is corrupt, it should be OK for a Brit or an Australian to commit a crime and go home?

ima..whatever:

"You speak as if you are the sole representative for the Bulgarian nation! Which is shame for Bulgaria and [...]

Read the full comment is people."

What ever gave you that idea? Have I use the word "we"? Most Bulgarians would disagree with me on pretty much everything.

Australia is lucky that he killed a man in BG. He would have done it in Australia eventually. As you know, Mr. Palfreeman had a previous drunken knife attack back in Australia against a friend who dropped the charges. Not unlike that Bulgarian who killed those people in Austria - I feel sorry for the victims, and I am very happy to see him extradited - hopefully the Austrians will make the rest of his life a living hell.

And also in what world is it OK for a man to walk around in a foreign country with a big knife, dispensing racial justice on the streets?

Are you people out of your minds?

The sentence is just numbers until there has been an appeal, these procedures may find the true balance, but I must say defending your self is not wise at all.

I have been following this case from the beginning and it was clearly a case of self defense. Andrei the dead young man was one of 20 attacking Jock with stones etc after Jock went to a Roma's rescue when the drunken pack were brutalising them. Witnesses police etc advocated that it was self defense and Pavioleta nicova has joined the ranks of those that abuse the privilege of their position,and any fool can see that there was a great miscarriage of justice.Maybe Andrei's father should have spent more time teaching Andrei none rascist principles. Clearly the kid was a [...]

Read the full comment thug.I am sorry for any one that loses their child, but Mr Monov you need to have the courage and look inside your heart and see the Truth.

Valeri

If the guy is guilty then he deserves his sentence. People have a right to post their feelings regarding the subject whether it is right or wrong.

You speak as if you are the sole representative for the Bulgarian nation! Which is shame for Bulgaria and is people.
You clear have a distaste for English speaking nations as i have seen and read in many posts on the sofia echo by your good self.

You talk about freedom of speech but then go on to [...]

Read the full comment chastise people and insult other nations for having an opinion that is not in keeping with yours. What kind of freedom is that?

Don't forget in the mist of all this name calling that the life of one young man was lost, and another will never be the same. Don't forget the heartbreak of the families involed. I am sorry for their loss, and I pray for healing for those caught up in this terrible situation.

Anyone who beleives the Bulgarian juridicial system to be transparent, fair and objective simply do not know the countrys history. This has nothing to do wiht nationalism. Sorry to say, but the country is corrupt. More than EU´s central administration.

This trial went on for eighteen months - there must have been a great deal of investigation and compiling of evidence. We must assume the Bulgarian legal system did their best. Why was his father, a pathologist, on the defense team? With both parents being professionals (his mother is a lawyer) surely they could have afforded the best defense. Perhaps they assumed it would be easy to get off in this "unsophisticated country". And since when is stabbing in the back defense? Also, convenient for Jock not to remember the incident.

I'm an Australian and I'm not about to leap to conclusions because no one here has all the facts. None of you were involved in the trial. There was a trial, and this man was found guilty of murder. If the trial was flawed, the accused has an avenue of appeal he can use.

To all those leaving derogatory comments here: stop accusing Australians and Bulgarians of being "bad people". They are unfair generalisations. Both Australia and Bulgaria are Western nations with high standards of living.

worldwide: It does not insult Bulgaria to point out that the prosecution case and the verdict are completely contradicted by the testimony of independent witnesses (i.e. not police or friends of Monov).

Not all Bulgarians think that their courts and police are perfect.

Careful Aussie's, it's not just Bulgarians reading this site and disagreeing with you, insulting Bulgarians makes you look bad not them. You are really making the point that people automatically associate with their nationals in such cases and try to expand the issue to an "us versus them" battle. Grow up. It's understandable that the family and defence of the guilty will try anything to reverse the judgement, in this case it is an obvious attempt to drag politics into it and hope for a reversal of justice. Keep it a legal issue not a nationalist issue; it’s amazing how [...]

Read the full comment simplistic you make all Aussies look with the crude statements made here.

Tribalism cuts both ways.

It is also "tribal" for the Bulgarian media, officials, etc to suggest guilt before a trial has taken place. It is not surprising that Australians and Brits object as their systems forbid all public comment on cases that have not been to court.

It is "tribal" that Monov's mother, who was not a witness to the killing, is allowed to testify and express an opinion on Palfreeman's character. (And also alien to the British/Aussie legal systems.) On that note, I'm also sure that a number of law abiding [...]

Read the full comment Sofians do go out without phones, ID and carry weapons -- if only to protect themselves against those "dreadful Roma". I also have to wonder whether the good people of Sofia would be so outraged by this death if the circumstances were slightly altered, say Palfreeman had killed one of a gang of gypsies, attacking Monov.

Will try not to get caught up in the nationalistic side battle here but the inconsistencies in the investigation & court case remind me of the Mulrunji Doomadgee death in custody debarcle on Palm Is, QLD, Australia.
Suspicious investigations & the imbalance of evidence where ever they may be are wrong & this case stinks.
Why would he (if the group was not attacking another human being) run all the way to them & take on a group that outnumber him without being provoked?... So to fall back on the defence that someone died is simplistic, [...]

Read the full comment things are never just black & white & it would be an injustice to have Jock spend 20 yrs rotting if it was just payback for a British convict being released. Find the CCTV footage, listen to all the evidence & see that justice has not been given.
Being Aboriginal, I know Australia is far from perfect but recognising injustice anywhere means standing up against it anywhere... and yes! If a Bulgarian tourist in Australia was in the same situation, I would defend them too, drunken hooligans are the same world over.

Wow, so discussing tribalism in the culture is a shameful and illegal act in Australia?
So what - do you have some sort of "tribalism discussing police" walking around taking notes?

Well, that may be. Bulgaria on the other hand is a free country and one can speak on any topic..
We disapprove of acting in a tribal manner, like Brits and apparently Australian s do, but wouldn't dream of banning it in any way.

Valeri, We dont allow racist comments such as those you have made here refering to Australians and 'Brits' as "traibalism is in their culture". You sould be ashamed of yourself.

Sydney:

"Comments such as these would never be allowed to be published on a 'news' website..."

Great country you've got down there;)

What else you people don't allow to be published?

Just reading the comments here makes me proud to be an Australian. I can't believe the uneducated assumptions made by the Bulgarians here. Comments such as these would never be allowed to be published on a 'news' website, regardless of the verdict. Thank God I was blessed to be born in Australia. It really makes me feel sorry for those born in such a corrupt country such as Bulgaria.

BTW watch what the Americans do if that babe gets convicted for murder in Italy.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/rudy-guede-amanda-knox-leave-murder-scene/story?id=9117060

Right now they are staying low, not to antagonize the Italians, but I guarantee that if she get convicted, there will be a parade of TV programs on the inadequacy of the Italian Legal system - the Mafia will be brought up, corruption, cultural insensitivity and so-forth - they are already attempting to show how it was her poor communication skills that caused her to confess after the arrest.

Sasho,
you saw what "Jon Mills" wrote:
"It is true that there is a natural assumption that their citizens are always innocent - irrespective of the evidence."

Tribalism is in their culture. Notice how it's only the ones from English speaking countries that say stuff like that, and constantly put the legal system on trial in the country where one of theirs commits a crime.
That's how they think - barbarians...

If only the Bulgarians could be this tough with the mafia. It's kind of difficult to proclaim innocence when you walk around with no phone, no ID, and a 30cm knife and a screwdriver. Hmm, how many times have I walked around with a 30cm knife in Sofia or Washington DC???? Zero. No matter what the circumstances were, this Aussie is guilty of killing a man during a drunken brawl. If a Bulgarian had done this in Australia, there would be no outcry from Bulgarians like the Aussies and Brits do everytime something bad happens to them while they're drunk [...]

Read the full comment abroad. Don't do stupid shit abroad, and you don't get into this kind of trouble. If this guy gets out early like the British guy Shields and gets labeled a hero, it's a bunch of bullshit.

given that i have been to both Vienna and spent some time in Brisbane and Toowoomba back in 1998, i probably know which is which. you are missing my point sweetheart.

Claire:

"That is in Austria, not AUSTRALIA. Go back to school."

Still the point stands. Bulgarians are glad for the Austrians or the Australians to keep our criminals.

Jon Mills:

"It is true that there is a natural assumption that their citizens are always innocent - irrespective of the evidence."

In what twisted reality is this natural? In the British tribal mind? Not in a a 21st century Europe, where nationality has nothing to do with guilt. The Bulgarian who [...]

Read the full comment will probably get executed for smuggling drugs in Iran - good for the Iranians! I assume nothing just because he has my citizenship, and trust in the Iranian legal system is not the issue..

The more I read random Brits here, the more contempt I feel for you people....

"Justice" at Wed, Dec 02 2009 19:28 CET, That is in Austria, not AUSTRALIA. Go back to school.

I hope we do not succumb to pressure to let him "serve" his sentence in Australia - they'll let him go within the year, just like that British criminal Shields.
We'll be watching Boyko!

GoJo, you ask what "inconsistent evidence"? Let's see ... how about independent witnesses testifying that it was Menon and his friends who attacked a man for no reason? The same witnesses testified that when Palfreeman assisted the victim of this assault, he was also attacked and used the knife to defend himself. You don't need to be a lawyer to see the problems with the prosecution case.

The Bulgarian justice system is clearly not one in which a fair trial can be guaranteed.

to all whinging aussies: i dont see any bulgarians complaining about this one:

http://sofiaecho.com/2009/12/02/824205_life-sentence-for-brutal-double-murder-by-bulgarian-in-austria

lets demand his release, eh?

Hi mates,
did somebody realise that a young man died?????

the aussie convict will spend five years in prison in BG (being aussie he is genetically engineered to be a convict so that should not be a problem), then he will be sent to australia to carry on with his sentence, and eventually let free after a few months.

What "inconsistent evidence"? Have you read the original court transcripts? Are you a trained prosecution or defence lawyer? If not, how can you comment?

Gojo - you are correct. It is true that there is a natural assumption that their citizens are always innocent - irrespective of the evidence. However, until the Bulgarian officials and to a large extent the general public are willing to adopt and follow a more open legal system - there will always be some doubt about 'fairness'.

I said nothing about innocence or guilt. I am asking you how can a verdict be given with such inconsistant evidence. I do not think Mr Palfreeman recieved a fair trial.

MM what do you mean? What do you get for first degree murder in Australia?
And who are you to talk about EU?
Chill dude

It's amazing how whenever a foreigner commits a crime in another country, especially a poorer one they are assumed by their nationals to be innocent and victims themselves. No way an Australian boy could commit a crime in Bulgaria, right? Carrying a knife and a screwdriver at night, just an old Aussie tradition.

How can a justice system as courpt as this one be able make such a descion without all the eveidence needed to have a fair trial. The full story of events has obviously been chopped and changed to the like of the prosecution. The father of the victim has been able to coupt the system. i feel sickend by this and as an Australian i feel disgusted that our own goverment won't step in and do something. How is this RIGHT-WINGED JOKE A COUNTRY ALLOWED TO BE IN THE EU. I want the Australian public to get behind Jock and [...]

Read the full comment this punch in the face to human rights.

What an injustice