UPDATE OCTOBER 2019 : Over 11 1/2 years later, Jock remains in prison, despite having won parole in September 2019.
Update #6 ( July 8 ) : Charles Miranda, Dad’s bid to free murder charge son Jock Palfreeman, The Daily Telegraph, July 8, 2008
Update #5 ( March 24 ) : Charles Miranda, New evidence in Australian’s murder case, The Daily Telegraph, March 24, 2008
Update #4 ( January 29 ) : Just stumbled upon an article from The Frontier Times (Bulgaria’s English language newspaper) by Stefan Stefanov, ‘Aussie Go Hero or Thug?’, January 10–February 10, 2008 edition. Stefanov writes: “Experts investigating the murder and attempted murder said that the knife penetrated the victim’s back straight through to the heart – a professional stab”; the only source (outside of commentary: see Vesselin Petrunov, January 8) that I’m aware of for this claim. Stefanov also writes “Meanwhile, it was leaked to the press that Mr Palfreeman had previously been charged for attempted murder back home in Australia”, which is false. Palfreeman has never been charged with attempted murder; what happened was that a man by the name of James Atack and another man simply called ‘Matt’ went to a local paper (January 3) with allegations that Palfreeman had stabbed them at a party. Jock was never charged for the alleged crime, apparently for lack of evidence.
Update #3 ( January 20 ) : Jock Palfreeman “enjoying cult-like status on the Internet”, bearing “striking resemblance to actor Matt Damon” and “now the subject of at least four websites and … receiving movie-star attention” says Marnie O’Neill of The Daily Telegraph.
Update #2 ( January 8 ) : Accused Aussie refused bail in Bulgaria, says AAP. news.com.au, on the other hand, appears to have put Charles Miranda on the case, who claims that Palfreeman may plead insanity…
Update #1 ( January 4 ) : Two more articles in the press, one in The Daily Terror by Gemma Jones, the other in the Sydney Morning Herald by Malcolm Brown. Jones reports a Facebook page has been set up by friends of Jock’s called ‘Jock Palfreeman is Not Guilty’ [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16826320034], attracting 60 (now almost 90) friends; some gossip regarding Jock’s love life; and reiterates the claims made yesterday in an earlier article by herself and another hack; viz, that James Atack and someone called Matt had “almost died” in a similar attack by Jock at a party in 2004, and that the pair “later named Palfreeman as the person who stabbed them. But police did not lay charges because of a lack of evidence” (Bulgaria accused’s pals rally, January 4). Brown (Father arrives to visit jailed son, January 4) writes that Jock’s father has arrived in Sofia, and that DFAT is keeping a close eye on the case. Interestingly, Brown also writes:
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.”
One (presumably) pseudonymous commenter, on the other hand — Karlos — claims that “Jock was involved in that party, but in regards to the comment about him carrying a knife with him, he actually took the knife off one of the people mentioned in the paper as a victim as that person was threatening his brother”. And in news just to hand, another commenter called grayham writes:
this case so far is complete bullshit. i’m in sofia. jock was with me for christmas and he’s 1 of my best friends. i’ve known him for 18 months. in bulgaria first and then in england. it was self defence. there was a gang beating a gypsy. jock chased them off. they then beat him and my girlfriend. unfortunately i wasn’t there to help as i had left an hour or so before. i wasn’t allowed into court even though jock had asked me to be there. even the judge asked where i was and then told the court that i had said i hardly knew jock anyway, which is the complete opposite of my statement. i’ve given the police names of other people who were there and as yet they have not been contacted.
you would not believe the things the judge has said to jock. she has already made up her mind. as for the one thing that will help, for sure the cctv – which the police have – we have been told so far that it probably won’t be allowed to be shown as evidence.
jock and me have also had problems with racists in the past. if you look slightly alternative over here it’s enough to get you beaten up. carrying a knife here is quite normal. you’re allowed to carry guns if you want. wouldn’t you carry something if everywhere you went you see swastikas and “punks die” grafittied on the walls?
from what i’ve heard jock is lucky to still be alive and didn’t really have any choice.
for all his friends out there i’ve seen him today and yesterday and he’s ok.
can’t believe this chatswood bullshit. if he’s been found innocent that’s the end of it.
he needs his friends’ help and support – glad to see there are so many of you out there.
Speaking of support, somebody called Phil suggests a letter along these lines would be useful if sent to the relevant authorities:
Dear Sir / Madam,
I write concerning Jock Palfreeman, the British serviceman recently arrested over a fatal stabbing in Sofia.
I am most concerned that Jock will not receive a fair trial because the victim’s father is a prominent Bulgarian and all the witnesses are friends of the deceased.
The information we have received from friends in Bulgaria is that Jock was acting in self-defence after trying to help another man who was being attacked by a gang of Nazi/fascist skinheads.
I understand that legal proceedings must have their own process but would appreciate it if you could do anything to address my concerns or direct them to the relevant authorities in Bulgaria.
Yours faithfully…
The address for the Embassy of Bulgaria in Canberra, Australia is below. Details of the address in London, England are available here.
Update : As an apparent result of defending himself and another man from fascist assault, it appears that Jock Palfreeman is in trouble with the Bulgarian police, judiciary and state. As is traditional, the British Army has abandoned Jock (“a phase two recruit with the British Army’s 1st Battalion Infantry Training Centre” according to a report in The Daily Terror) and he has also been denied bail by magistrate Maria Petrova — on the basis of his allegedly violent disposition. According to one report by the ABC, “In a written statement tendered to the court, Mr Freeman [sic] said he had gone to the aid of a gypsy [that is, Rom] who was being attacked”. A plausible scenario, given that Romani are frequently subject to racist attacks, both in Bulgaria and throughout Europe (as is also traditional).
See also : Malcolm Brown, Friends stunned as trip ends in fatal brawl, Sydney Morning Herald, January 2, 2008.
In Australia, the Bulgarian Government has an Embassy in the ACT, and it may be useful to politely inform the Embassy that Jock’s friends in Australia wish to see him receive a fair trial:
- Australian Capital Territory : Embassy of Bulgaria
Street address: 33 Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, Canberra ACT 2600
Postal address: Phillip DC, PO Box 6096, Canberra ACT 2606
Chancery:
Monday – Friday; 9.00 am – 12.30 pm; 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm
tel: 02/ 6286 9711; fax: 02/ 6286 9600
e-mail: [email protected]
Consular section:
Monday – Friday; 9.30 am – 12.00 pm
tel: 02/ 6286 9700; fax: 02/ 6286 9600
e-mail: [email protected]
Somebody called Joe Paul Freeman or (more likely, perhaps) Jock Palfreeman has been arrested in Sofia, Bulgaria over a stabbing incident (Aussie charged with murder after Bulgaria brawl, AAP, SMH, January 1, 2008):
An Australian man has been charged with murder and refused bail after a knife attack in Bulgaria which left one man dead and another badly injured.
Jock Palfreeman, 21, from NSW, made a brief appearance before Sofia City Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and another of attempted murder.
He was arrested last Friday in the Bulgarian capital after allegedly fatally stabbing 20-year-old Andrei Monov, the son of prominent local psychotherapist Hristo Manov, in a street brawl.
Palfreeman is also accused of attempting to murder Antoan Zahariev, 19.
According to a police statement tendered to the court, Palfreeman admitted stabbing the two Bulgarian men but insisted it was in self-defence.
Palfreeman said that while he had been carrying a knife at the time, he only pulled it out to defend himself and two other friends from a group of football hooligans who were attacking another man…
The stabbing appears to have a ‘political’ dimension, as ‘The court heard that Palfreeman was in Bulgaria to visit a friend and had been out drinking with a group of people when they saw a group of men hitting another man and shouting “fascists”‘; Palfreeman also appears to have been a teenage socialist.
Apparently Mr. Palfreeman is an employee of the British Army?
Happy new year, @ndy et al. Good luck with smashing the state in 08.
the guys who got stabbed were with a gang of fascist hooligans. Jock was just trying to defend someone else and then had to defend himself against about ten people. this guy is really sound and brave for standing up to fascists – being in the army doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person. hope he gets off as it was self-defence. wish there was some way to help him as bulgarian police and courts may be biased in favour of the right-wing. apparently there is CCTV footage of the incident which might clear him…
Right. The report is a little confused on that point. And yeah, Bulgaria is notoriously corrupt — and the region’s largest exporter of sex workers, which gives some insight into economic conditions there — and it’s generally the case in Europe (and Eastern Europe in particular), that both the police and the judiciary are sympathetic to the right. The fact that the man killed is the son of a prominent local does not bode well for Jock either. I imagine he might be helped by his family over here, and by supporting them and by exerting pressure on Australian authorities to ensure Bulgarian authorities conduct something vaguely resembling a fair trial…
(PS. An interview with some anarchists in Bulgaria is available here.)
Right-Wing Extremism | 01.09.2007
Ultra-Right Gaining Ground in Bulgaria
Deutsche Welle
Bullshit [he’s] guilty!
There is no way Jock could have murdered anyone! Sounds like self-defence to me.
I’ll be barracking for you back here mate.
Odd. Very odd.
Jock is a MURDERER!!!
Nothing wrong with being in the army, just mentioned it cos it’s a bit odd for an anti-war campaigner.
According to a report on Page 3 of today’s Australian, Jock was investigated but not charged in regards to a stabbing in Sydney a few years ago.
Bulgaria stabber accused before
The Daily Telegraph
By Gemma Jones and Clementine Cuneo
January 03, 2008 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22998263-5001021,00.html
THE Sydney private school graduate charged over a stabbing murder in Bulgaria had been accused of another violent stabbing at a North Shore party…
Odd story. — “It just hurts to know he has done it to someone else, I was a millimetre away from dying,” Matt, who was too afraid to have his last name published, said yesterday. — Whereas James Atack is happy to have his name published. — When Mr Atack saw Palfreeman’s photograph in The Daily Telegraph yesterday, he said he recognised him from the night he was stabbed in December 2004. Mr Atack and Matt said when police spoke to them at hospital after the Chatswood stabbing they had named Palfreeman as the attacker. It is understood police investigated Palfreeman but no charges were laid due to a lack of evidence. — It seems slightly incongruous that James recognised Jock by way of his photo and not his name, as ‘Jock Palfreeman’ is very uncommon, and the police (?) apparently named Jock as their assailant three years ago. On the other hand, The Terror names the assailant in Sofia as being first unknown, then John Paul Freeman, then Joe Paul Freeman, then Jock Palfreeman, then Paul “Jock” Palfreeman…
That James Atack bloke is an absolute dud.
He attacked Jock with around 20 of his Chatswood adlays and they got what they were asking for. His story is a complete and utter lie.
I didn’t realise North Shore parties were so dangerous. Perhaps the police should form a unit specialising in infiltrating and disbanding these violent ethnic gangs?
isn’t it weird that this guy keeps turning up in the wrong place at the wrong time… and armed with a knife?
No matter what the circumstances, we have a young man who has already been involved in one stabbing less than three years ago, in a foreign country, drinking and carrying a knife.
“Wonderful boys, a wonderful son and brother” don’t carry knives in bars, and don’t stick them into people.
The guy Palfreeman is obviously a really nasty piece of work, and it seems he doesn’t learn. I suspect he is going to be swapping spit in the Bulgarian prison showers [for] many years to come.
the guys who were in the daily tele today tried to jump jock with dirty chatty lads, jock doesn’t start fights… hope those tools are happy to be ruining his case with some b.s. media beat up
Dezley: neither case has been proven yet. In the first instance, whoever one_love is, they claim Jock was jumped, and outnumbered. I’ve no idea if this is true or not, and neither do you. But police did not press charges, and therefore the allegation is untested. The other matter is before the courts in Bulgaria, and it remains to be seen what will be the outcome. At this stage, it’s more important I feel to ensure a fair trial than pre-judge its ultimate conclusion.
Osmosis Bum Licker (if that is your real name): No, we do not. What we have is a claim by James Atack and another man named ‘Matt’, which is untested and unproven; that Jock is in a foreign country is not relevant to establishing either his guilt, his innocence or his ‘bad’ or ‘good’ character; that he was drinking may be relevant insofar as he may have had impaired judgement — although this too is unknown; the media reports that he was carrying a knife for the purposes of self-defence, claiming to have been attacked on several previous occasions. The truth or falsity of much of the above will presumably be the subject of legal argument in a properly-constituted legal forum. In any case, according to one report, the stabbing apparently took place not in a bar but outside the Hotel Sheraton (“An Australian citizen stabbed two youths with a knife in a fight in the centre of Sofia on the night of December 27 to 28. One of the youths died and the other was out of danger, Focus news agency said. The fight took place near the Sheraton Hotel and Sveta Nedelya church at around 1.30am”), and a reasonable argument could and presumably will be made that people of good character may well use a knife in self-defence. Certainly, members of the world’s armed forces are routinely called upon to use weapons to kill and maim others and their exploits not only regarded as being not evil, but the height of bravery.
gus: I doubt that they’ve ruined his case. Assuming that their account is false or at least lacking much further detail, it appears to be an opportunistic attempt to settle an old score. One would assume that the lack of a conviction regarding the alleged offence makes it fairly useless in a legal setting.
It’s best that people who don’t know Jock keep their uneducated and biased opinions to themselves.
As said above, Jock doesn’t start fights, he aids his friends or innocent victims when others are too afraid to step in.
I’m sure if you had been attacked several times in a foreign corrupt country, you would carry some form of protection.
For the victims of the Chatswood case to come forward for their 15 minutes of fame is a pathetic attempt to get back at Jock and stir more media coverage for the case against him.
I agree. Having known Jock he doesn’t start fights, it’s definitely not part of his nature.
Carrying protection in a corrupt country is one thing but rolling ’round Chatswood in Sydney, Australia with a knife is criminal. He beat the charges last time by crying self-defence but what goes around comes around and this time he’s not going to be so lucky; especially if the 14 ‘objective’ witnesses have anything to do with it.
To Lv: “As said above, Jock doesn’t start fights, he aids his friends or innocent victims when others are too afraid to step in.” You are deluded buddy. Jock is a coward, he carries a knife and stabs people; therefore Jock is going to burn in a Bulgarian prison for a long time.
I recently have been shown a video of Jock on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dEyv1gDfXI
Need I say more…
You are all judging Jock from what you’ve heard from the media… and if you all had half a brain you would know that the media exaggerates everything, so comment all you want but until you know the real story, whether it’s the recent one or the story from a couple of years ago, you really have no right to judge Jock as a person. And for those idiots who went to the papers about the past… go call someone who cares.
“It’s best that people who don’t know Jock keep their uneducated and biased opinions to themselves. As said above, Jock doesn’t start fights, he aids his friends or innocent victims when others are too afraid to step in. I’m sure if you had been attacked several times in a foreign corrupt country, you would carry some form of protection. For the victims of the Chatswood case to come forward for their 15 minutes of fame is a pathetic attempt to get back at Jock and stir more media coverage for the case against him… it appears to be an opportunistic attempt to settle an old score.”
Couldn’t have put it better myself. Jock Palfreeman is one of the most level headed, genuine, loving, inspiring people I know. I feel privileged to be associated with him.
I hereforth am turning down all invitations to all North Shore parties. Although it must be said I’ve never seen an ounce of violence at any of the North Shore parties I’ve been too (apart from violent vomiting).
perfectly said Lv, i know him very well and i just hope he gets a fair go
Jock was involved in that party, but in regards to the comment about him carrying a knife with him, he actually took the knife off one of the people mentioned in the paper as a victim as that person was threatening his brother… in regards to what has happened in Bulgaria, it is fucked, but he was advised by many a person to carry some sort of weaponry there. If you do some research you will find it is quite commonplace for that to be the case. Apparently one of the guys who did the article to get their 15 minutes was paid. I can’t confirm this, but if this is true, then that is absolutely scum. Jock had lived in Bulgaria before that for some time with a girl, working on her parent’s farm, and never encountered problems. Anyone who knows him would know that this is not the type of thing he would do unprovoked or out of the blue. I feel for the victim’s family, but as I said, this would not have been unprovoked…
A hypothetical:
Assume that Palfreeman did indeed get away with stabbing people 3 years ago, and it was covered up.
This would have required many of his friends who were there to keep silent in order to protect him.
Now, 3 years later, it looks like he may spend 10 years in a Bulgarian prison for murder.
Would it not have been better to be convicted of the original offence and spend 1-3 years in a NSW prison near his family and friends and have some chance of rehabilitation?
Moreover, there would be no murder victim and grieving family in Bulgaria. Do the people that helped Palfreeman get off have blood on their hands right now?
Fact:
I heard about the alleged assaults in Chatswood well before it hit the news. People who recognised Palfreeman straight away as the same guy. Whether it’s true or not, there are a lot of people who believe that Palfreeman was the perpetrator of those Chatswood assaults.
I sincerely hope that Palfreeman gets a fair trial.
this case so far is complete bullshit. i’m in sofia. jock was with me for christmas and he’s 1 of my best friends. i’ve known him for 18 months. in bulgaria first and then in england. it was self defence. there was a gang beating a gypsy. jock chased them off. they then beat him and my girlfriend. unfortunately i wasn’t there to help as i had left an hour or so before. i wasn’t allowed into court even though jock had asked me to be there. even the judge asked where i was and then told the court that i had said i hardly knew jock anyway, which is the complete opposite of my statement. i’ve given the police names of other people who were there and as yet they have not been contacted.
you would not believe the things the judge has said to jock. she has already made up her mind. as for the one thing that will help, for sure the cctv – which the police have – we have been told so far that it probably won’t be allowed to be shown as evidence.
jock and me have also had problems with racists in the past. if you look slightly alternative over here it’s enough to get you beaten up. carrying a knife here is quite normal. you’re allowed to carry guns if you want. wouldn’t you carry something if everywhere you went you see swastikas and “punks die” grafittied on the walls?
from what i’ve heard jock is lucky to still be alive and didn’t really have any choice.
for all his friends out there i’ve seen him today and yesterday and he’s ok.
can’t believe this chatswood bullshit. if he’s been found innocent that’s the end of it.
he needs his friends’ help and support – glad to see there are so many of you out there.
Look at it like this – 2 incidents, both involving knives and both with stabbings – Jock being at the centre of both.
I don’t doubt that he stabbed the boys from Chatswood, provoked or not, using weapons is a coward’s way out and I hope that Jock receives a lengthy “time out” in jail to think about the tears and agony he has caused his victims and their families.
And Shane Hogan speaking on behalf of St. Ignatius should redeem himself from releasing such rubbish reputation/damage control statements about how Jock was a model student – he wasn’t.
Hola grayham,
Thanks for the comment.
In general, I think it’s difficult for many people in Australia to understand some of the risks entailed in various forms of cultural and political non-conformity in places like Bulgaria, or that there exist racist and fascist movements capable of real violence. (In Melbourne, some local punks even support a local neo-Nazi venue — they honestly don’t care.) If your account is correct, it appears that this was Jock’s downfall. He cared that a man was being beaten for being the wrong ethnicity and intervened on his behalf. Unfortunately, one of this man’s attackers died, and Jock is allegedly responsible.
With regards the behaviour of the police and magistrate, this is not unexpected. Jock is a foreigner after all, accused of a very serious crime. It also recalls the case of Tomek Wilkoszewski:
By the sounds of it, Jock is fortunate to have the support of family and friends. And the more attention there is on the case, the more likely he will receive something more closely resembling a fair trial.
j kimble
if ten guys are beating you you have to use weapons or you end up dead. these guys are beating a gypsy, beating jock and kicking my girlfriend, and you refer to jock being a coward for using a knife. what planet!!! and please stop going on about chatswood. it’s over.
andy
thanks for your comments. i agree as much attention as possible is required.
Hola grayham,
Were the attackers boneheads (fascist/neo-Nazi ‘skinheads’)?
By way of example of existing tensions, on June 20, 2007 boneheads attacked punks at an Exploited gig in Sofia. (Images.)
And in the political arena:
Bulgaria’s EU joy tainted by MP’s racist jibe
Daniel McLaughlin in Budapest
Wednesday October 4, 2006
The Guardian
See also numerous Human Rights Watch reports on racist violence in Bulgaria. Of particular relevance in the present context is a recent decision by the European Court of Human Rights:
Strasbourg Court Sanctions Bulgaria for Failure to Bring Perpetrators of Racist Killing to Justice
(Last Updated: 2007-08-06 08:20:13)
States should use existing legal arsenal in fight against racism and deal effectively with racially motivated offences, says Court
When it comes to this unfolding tale I like the sheltered reactions of Australians the best: ‘A knife? Guilty!’. It’ll be real fucking astounding for you stupid cunts when you travel and suddenly realise you live in the top 1/3 of the global community and that in most places violence is commonplace.
Good on this cunt. Organizing student protests at year 11? Sounds pretty switched on. Bashing a bunch of cunts and taking a knife off them? Sounds pretty bad arse. Charging into a group of presumably right-wing dickheads by himself while in a foreign country to stop them kicking the shit out of a lone gypsy? Sounds like a bad arse with a heart of gold.
Jock Palfreeman you seem like a cool guy and I wish you luck!
i hope you all die as soon as it[‘]s possible fuckin[‘] punk bastards
Karlos is right, I was in Jock’s aid after the Chatswood incident, and I can vouch that Jock was just there to assist his brother and his friends from getting severely hurt. Those boys who went to the press should be feeling really low for coming out and saying something when ALL of Jock’s friends and the people who were involved in the Chatswood incident know that it was one of those 2 boys who brought the knife with them.
Like I mentioned before (for those ‘anti-Jock’) if you people had half a brain you would see Jock’s innocence in relation to the Chatswood stabbing… don’t you think that if Jock really stabbed someone with intention to hurt or kill that he would have been arrested???
So obviously (for you dumb idiots) he did nothing wrong but protect someone from getting hurt.
If you just put your mind to it you’ll realise how pathetic these 2 “20 year old” boys are. Go out and get a life… get your own friends and don’t just go crashing parties… you’re not ‘cool’ you’re just a pathetic excuse for a human being.
As for Jock, he is innocent… I’m privileged to know Jock and consider Jock as one of my very close friends, almost like my family. So there is no way in hell that he is guilty.
I’ll continue to support Jock and help people out there understand that he is one of the most honest, genuine, level-headed souls you’ll ever meet in your life.
Taken from [here]:
You know why they are uncomfortable??? BECAUSE THEY ARE LYING!!! They know what really happened and therefore now they have mentioned it in the press they need to stand by what they say otherwise they will look like the pathetic jerks they truly are.
I will make sure that everyone out there knows of Jock’s innocence and that these 2 boys are just crying for attention!
Yes, gypsies do get beaten up in Bulgaria by drunken football fans, Yes it is wrong. No, it is not right for any man to do justice in the way this guy has done. No you can not stop violence with even bigger violence. And you definitely do not just defend yourself when you stab a 20 year old boy in the heart.
Why are people taking the 2004 allegation as fact? The story at school was he took the knife off the guy who was eventually stabbed as Atack was threatening Jock’s brother. North Shore parties are only dangerous because of people like Atack, who crashed said party. People like Jock take the fall when they stand up for their friends & family. Atack is scum who thinks he is gangster. And he didn’t come close to dying, saying such a thing will probably end up doing him even more harm.
Jock is the kind of person who would defend a victim, especially given his strong political and social opinions. The fact that the deceased was the son of some local legend shouldn’t matter. Question is, what was he doing with a gang of [boneheads] beating up a gypsy? The prospect of a fair trial is highly unlikely. The prospect of Bulgaria ever being a country I would respect is also highly unlikely.
Looks like @ndy may have his Martyr. Well @ndy as you said Bulgaria is one of the “largest exporter of sex workers.” What you forgot to say is that the Nationalists of this country are not the ones behind it. In fact White Slavery in particular the kidnapping of Poor Young White Women from these countries is one of the most underexposed crimes of the century. Where do they end up? And who is behind it? Well most end up in Turkey and other Muslim countries. And guess who is involved? Yes @ndy the Russian/Israel Mafia. And they are? Jews.
So we have an Anarchist (presumably) who has a track record of stabbing people. He then finally gets his wish and kills another man in a foreign country. But that’s cool he only killed (presumably) a Fascist. Now considering you @ndy think Fascists are anyone who doesn’t agree with you we all best watch out.
I think a few letters to the Bulgarian Embassy is a great idea. Maybe we could point them to this blog? I’m sure they will get the idea.
Lucky for him @ndy has some influence with his pet project Prisoners Overseas. In fact didn’t you do an interview for them last year? Looked like you.
grayham i really think you should get in touch with the sydney morning herald and pass on all this information… jock is in a terrible situation and your info will be a huge help in clearing up all this mess – sounds like there is little chance he will get a fair trail, this cctv footage needs to be forced upon the court to prove he wasn’t the aggressor and was acting in self-defence
Wow I think I’ve been living under a rock or something.
Happy new year @ndy, hope it’s really cool and you finally get around to taking up cross stitch.
xox
Ultimate Hater: Yeah, he does sound pretty staunch.
[Angwy young man]: You’re an idiot.
LD (Drags): At this stage, it seems fairly clear to me that, in a misguided attempt to seek revenge for a past humiliation, James and “Matt” may have bitten off a little more than they can chew. Thus the fact that:
1) Jock was never charged over the incident (let alone brought to trial);
2) there appear to be a number of people willing to dispute their account;
3) it’s being made about someone who is not in a position to contradict them — in fact, someone who is in a very perilous situation;
suggests that they are petty-minded at best and callous cowards at worst.
And yeah, that bit about not wanting to talk to the press again doesn’t exactly bolster their case…
dusty_joe: That violence and discrimination towards Gypsies — ie, Romani — is widespread is an acknowledged fact. In other words, it’s not just a matter of a few cowardly drunken football thugs occasionally gang-bashing women and children (although they do), but a problem which reaches from one gutter to another, from the ‘bottom’ of society to the ‘top’. In addition to the sources cited above — Human Rights Watch and the European Roma Rights Center — the following report from November is illustrative of the context. It’s also noteworthy for the fact that Hristo Monov, the father of the man Jock allegedly stabbed to death, is quoted:
Romani Teenager Beaten to Death
Last Updated: 2007-11-26 10:12:35
In summary, according to the Amnesty International Report of 2007:
These then, are the social conditions in Bulgaria.
As for the specific circumstances surrounding the stabbings, these have yet to be established. And I’ve no idea if Bulgarian jurisprudence recognises that an individual has a ‘right’ to defend themselves or another person from serious harm through the use of force, but in terms of moral philosophy this is a well-established position.
Jim QLD, aka Jim Perren of stormfront.org, formerly (alongside of the Australian Nationalists’ Movement) Jim Perren of the White Pride Coalition of Australia:
Regarding martyrdom, there are many people in prison for defending themselves from fascist attack. In fact, in a country called Australia, there are even memorials to those who died fighting it.
Amazing eh?
Regarding Jewish control of the prostitution industry (is there anything those Shylocks don’t control?), I’m sure this story does well on stormfront, but the reality is quite different. For example:
Finally, Jock is not, as far as I know, an anarchist (the only political association of his that I’m aware of is with a high school anti-war campaign and the socialist youth group Resistance); Jock has no ‘track record’; fascists are people like yourself… y’know… the kinda people who include 88 (“Heil Hitler”) in their email addresses?
😉
Kakariki: Cheers!
Rybak, you’re missing the point, dismiss the Chatswood victims all you like, but on paper, if both parties involved were charged, Jock most likely would have been charged with assault with a weapon and possibly attempted murder, while the persons stabbed, assault.
It doesn’t take a genius to weigh up the differences.
Maybe Jock should have tried at another profession rather than trying to be Superman.
It seems that most of the people on this blog are letting their personal friendship with the accused get in the way of the important details surrounding these incidents.
Kimble you’re totally right. Important details surrounding these incidents have been neglected.
Details such as it being Chatswood/Pius boys being the ones gatecrashing a party, looking for a fight, and through actually bringing a weapon — a knife — to a teenagers’ party, clearly seeking to maliciously harm someone, only for themselves to end up being harmed in the process. Perhaps if they’d had the sense to not carry weapons, or to not attend parties they’re not invited to, indeed, this would have not occurred. Those poor boys, such victims… of themselves.
And if the political and racial climate wasn’t what it was in Bulgaria… And if there weren’t an entire group of wanna-be, upper-class, right-wing morons senselessly bashing another man based on ‘what’ he is rather than ‘who’ he is, then perhaps we would not be looking at the same situation we are now faced with. Indeed this ‘young boy’ (as reported in the media) slash 20 year old man, didn’t deserve to die. However, perhaps he made the fatal mistake of hounding a single man because of his race. ‘He didn’t deserve to die, but if the bashing hadn’t occurred in the first place, Jock wouldn’t have had to have become involved.’
If anything Jock is the victim himself for having such a grounding and strong sense of justice embedded in him.
God bless him.
Cheerio.
By way of further background regarding “nationalist” — that is, fascist — activism in Sofia:
Interestingly, Andrei Monov a “20-year-old law student”, was buried today according to the SMH (Accused Australian’s father in Bulgaria, AAP, January 4, 2008), and “About 250 mourners attended the two-hour funeral at the city’s Bojana cemetery. Monov was farewelled by relatives, schoolmates and fellow students from the New Bulgarian University where he had been studying. Dozens of members of Monov’s favourite soccer club FC Levski, one of the biggest in Bulgaria, also attended.” Point being, FC Levski is home to the Levski Hools, a fascist football firm…
so… i’m not sure, but you are trying to discharge Jock… please, DON’T!!!
i knew Andrey, he was my friend and that night… i can’t say nothing more, but Jock killed him!!! in his back!!! he is a murderer… no matter what his friends and parents say… he KILLED Andrey!!!
that’s it!!!
i just want to be clean about it and you should know that… you will see
and Andrey wasn’t some fascist or somethin!!!
nationalist means when you love your country!!!
i love Bulgaria, he used to love Bulgaria too
i guess you love your country, don’t you?!?
i once met a guy at my school the grade below me. i had been told about how much of a THUG he was. after meeting him and talking to him for a while i realised this guy is actually genuine, i realised Jock was a nice guy who stood up for what he believes, and ever since that day every time i saw him we would say g’day. people jump to conclusions, hell i did.
jock may have or may not have stabbed and killed someone i don’t know for sure and i am definitely not trusting the media. however i will never believe that it wasn’t in self-defence and i will never believe jock would take someone’s life cold blood.
in regards to this 2004 attack get over it, he was innocent, there was none of this, well he is innocent but he did it shit, he is innocent. and i’ll never believe some north shore lad who is scum of the earth.
GO Jock… you’re a good person.
Peace dude!
I went to school with Jock. he is a fucking weirdo, and this does not surprise me in the slightest. he was a at loner at school (nowhere near a well-liked student/good sportsman/well rounded)… he started many fights at school, albeit none of them with knives, but he does have a violent streak. it may be slightly self-defence but he should pay for what he did
i mean c’mon, someone is dead thanks to jock
happy new year
One more for Jim “QLD” Perren:
Neo-Nazis Put on Trial in Yekaterinburg
UCSJ
(January 2, 2008)
Also of interest, ‘A Better Class of Fascists’ by Nadezhda Pitulova, Transitions Online, 3 January 2008:
And for friend, from the same article:
‘Nationalism’ is the badge used by racist cowards.
It is a shame that the dude got killed over what sounds like some political bs. Everyone does retarded shit when they are 20 and MOST people grow up but I guess it comes down to what do you do in that situation, ie. walking past and seeing a group of men beating someone up over some racist shit. Walk past and don’t say anything? Or try put a stop to it? I know what the right thing is to do in that situation – and to put yourself in harm’s way like that and step up for someone else takes balls. Sounds like he had ’em. I hope it works out okay for him.
Bok said it the best…
I wont believe anything the media says which may be against Jock because I know him too well. I wish there was some way to convey that to people who may think otherwise…
I see plenty of people in this thread saying that the fact remains that he killed someone, and whilst yes that is true, there are many cases in which self-defence is a valid defence against murder and assault charges. Unfortunately in this case it seems that Bulgaria’s poor justice system is going to come out on top unless drastic action is taken. I’m sick of people who don’t know him, or who he may have been acquaintances with, going to the media and posting heaps of half-truths. His true mates know him, know how he is, and know that there is no way possible for him to have murdered someone unless it was very heavily brought on. He has quite possibly the best mindset in terms of justice, he always looks out for the little guy, the one who can’t talk. We also have to do this, because right now he can’t talk, all he can do is sit in a jail cell and wait for “justice”. I’m not going to start ranting and saying blah blah Jock is my god blah blah, but he was one of the boys, and one of the most loyal people I have ever met, and that is not an exaggeration. I have never been more frustrated with something as I am right now, as I am stricken to just listen and wait, rather than see and influence the outcome of this case.
FUCK.
??? you seem like a bit of a loser yourself. Jock is a top bloke.
I know Jock from school, he’s a friend of my brother, so I met him many times, though I was never close to him.
I’ve read through all of these posts and feel I should say something, as it seems everyone who’s posted are either very close friends of his or they hate him. Hopefully I can provide a more balanced view of this case…
From what I remember of Jock at school, he wasn’t a model student. Having said that, he was still a good guy (in my own opinion), mischievous perhaps, a prankster, but I never witnessed him being violent.
I did hear about the Chatswood incident, but I don’t know enough about it to comment on it other than to confirm that I’d heard the story that Jock had been defending someone else. Also that he hadn’t “stabbed” the other guys, but that they had been cut when they tried to grab him or the knife or something. Once again, I didn’t see that, just heard it a long time ago, so I don’t know how accurate it is.
Furthermore, what does this incident have to do with this case? While previous offences can be used to show a person’s character, other incidents cannot be legally used to prove another charge. Also, regardless of what actually happened, JOCK WAS NEVER CHARGED. Legally, it is only ALLEGED that the incident happened.
Looking at the incident in Sofia, I’ve heard what the papers have had to say as well as what my brother and his friends have told me (i.e. Jock’s school friends). I’ve also read a lot about Jock’s political leanings, Bulgaria’s socio-political problems and the status of Manov’s father…
What does this all matter?
The facts are (according to what I’ve read) that Jock intervened in a brawl (SMH 4th Jan) and fatally stabbed a man. We’ve also heard that this “brawl” was actually a gang beating a Romani/Gypsy. What I want to know is whether you people who are saying Jock is guilty of murder would stand by and let someone be beaten up without doing anything, or whether you would intervene in any way? Would you help the person being beaten in any way? Even by calling the police? I’m not saying you should be a hero and fight off 10 men, this isn’t about bravery… it’s about having a social conscience.
I’ve been beaten up before for helping a friend. I’d rather that than my friend being hurt even more.
Is Jock guilty? I can’t say anything other than that I hope he’s not. I don’t know the exact circumstances, I don’t know how many people were involved, I don’t know at what point Jock intervened. And I seriously doubt that the people who are saying Jock is guilty and bringing up his “violent past” vis a vis the Chatswood incident know the answer to any of these questions either.
All we can do is wait for the outcome of the case, and instead of flaunting our subjective opinions about, we should just hope for a fair trial. If the trial is fair, then Jock will get what he deserves, whether he’s found guilty of murder, or innocent due to self-defence. A fair trial. Will he get one?