The Sydneysider has repeatedly denied the charges, saying he was trying to defend himself from being attacked by a group of men. Photo by EPA/BGNES
The father of 23-year-old Sydneysider Jock Palfreeman, who was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a Bulgarian court, has harshly criticized the verdict and the investigation that preceded it.
“The sentence was delivered following an investigation, marred by a number of procedural violations,” Simon Palfreeman told journalists after the hearing.
The Sydney pathologist flew to Sofia to support his son and made a direct appeal to the court.
The 23-year-old had gone to the aid of a gypsy being assaulted by a group of drunk football fans, Dr. Palfreeman said.
"This is an act that can only be described as heroic," he said.
"While as a parent I would have preferred he stayed safe and out of harm's way, as a human being I am proud a young man tried to help despite such dangerous circumstances."
The emotional appeal came as prosecutors asked for Palfreeman to be given a life sentence if he is convicted and the alleged victim's family called the Australian a "professional killer".
On December 27, 2007, the former St Ignatius Riverview student was on a night out in Sofia when he became involved in a violent confrontation.
How the fight started is a key area of contention, with Palfreeman claiming he went to help gypsies who were being assaulted by a gang of up to 25 drunk football fans.
Surrounded by the men, he said he was forced to produce a knife that he carried because of six previous incidents in which people had pulled knives on him in Bulgaria.
University law student Andrei Monov, 20, the son of a prominent police psychologist, suffered a stab wound and died.
Three others were also injured, including 19-year-old Anton Zahariev, who suffered multiple knife puncture wounds.
The group of local men denied assaulting anyone and said that it was Palfreeman who lashed out at them.