What if this case went to the European Court? Surely it would be thrown out in 5 minutes...why Bulgaria, would you want that sort of national humiliation?

In Bulgaria the laws do not encourage any acts of selfdefence. Imagine, if this was encouraged then what if people start defending themselves from all the wolves who rule bulgaria now???
It is for the purpose of leaving the criminals to act in peace and calm.
I am happy that one of the bug...rs was killed! Otherwise it would have been Jock instead.

It seems a shame for this to happen in any case but the mistake made here was wielding a knife. Anyone drunk enough to gang up one man will almost certainly have enough "beer muscles" to take one man on with a knife. Being a military man, you should know how to defend yourself with your hands. The incident happened in BG and under Bg law, he was convicted. All of those involved were wrong. My motto: "When in a foreign country always expect the unexpected and be prepared for trouble with a backup plan." I have been to Bg [...]

Read the full comment many times and i've learned to avoid trouble.

Kate, BG law also has a "self defence" provision very similar grounds as Australia.

The general common law principle is stated in Beckford v R (1988) 1 AC 130:

"A defendant is entitled to use reasonable force to protect himself, others for whom he is responsible and his property. It must be reasonable."

If he is only wavering a knife around, then no doubt this would be considered reasonable.

I hope the Sofia Echo will be ok with me posting the following link which discusses the law of self defense as it applies in my home country. I thought it might add to discussion on Jock Palfreeman.
http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defence_(Australia)

To Milen, re (3) - I can't talk about 'anglo-saxon' countries, but Australia, a 'western' country, though it lies in the 'eastern' hemisphere uses a common law system. Under our law system self defense is not considered assault as it is considered justified. So - in Jock's case, if the defense had been allowed the opportunity to prove it and not been stymied from providing a full defense by the prosecution or the court, he would have probably gotten off. In regards to the knife - I watched the interview - Jock's statement was to the effect that he only [...]

Read the full comment had it out and swished it around in an arc to keep the mob away. If he had the intention to stab someone than I think there would have been far greater injuries than the outcome shown.

I just watched Amanda Knox's father attack and condem the Italian justice system... predictable...

To Robert and Correz:
1. The Bulgarian justice system is corrupt - as many other state bureaucracies in Bulgaria. No big discovery there. I have personally been f$%$#* by it.
2. After Michael Shields was pardoned in England, Bulgaria does not want to see this happen again.
3. Jock is not innocent, as he was in a squabble, had a knife and someone died. He might have acted in self defense, which the courts might be cunningly twisting. However, the other guy didn't stab himself while beating Jock. I live in a "free" anglo-saxon [...]

Read the full comment country. I stab and kill someone, kiss my ... goodbye for a long long time. No corrupution, just justice.

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content

Those arguing that the Bulgarian legal system is fair clearly have not followed the case. The Bulgarian system of justice is not "just" by most reasonable standards and has consistently resisted the defense highlighting serious inconsistencies in prosecution witness accounts, and the fact that many witness accounts changed significantly from original statements to what was later tendered in court. It is certainly tragic that a young man died. The greater tragedy that is that the Bulgarian legal system has clearly proved itself incapable of establishing truth and is destroying the life of another young man in the process.

It seems straightforward to me.
If, in Bulgaria, the victims control the evidence considered, then make Jock the victim. (1) Accuse the state of false imprisonment and corruption. Accuse the gang members of physical abuse, and subsequent defamation against Jock's character. (2) Only give consideration to those who offer testimony in Jock's favour and discount any testimony suggesting otherwise.

If that's how Bulgaria's legal system operates, then work within that legal system.

Jock is innocent, and the Bulgarian "justice" system is corrupt -- a sad reality--! The whole trial was corrupt. Bulgaria needs to come forth and live according to the standards of the EU. Corruption is a way of life.

LOL;))0
oooh watch out for those little red people imprisoning people for simple stabbing to death....
That would never happen in the free world......

Jock is innocent for sure. The free world stands in shock over the behavior of the Bulgarian "justice" system. It appears that there are still "red people" in positions of authority. Sad.