Australia Still Seeks to Return Stabber Jailed in Bulgaria

The Australian government says it will keep trying to have a Sydney man jailed for 20 years in Bulgaria serve out his murder sentence in Australia.

According to The Guardian, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, is disappointed that Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor has knocked back Australia's official request for Jock Palfreeman's transfer.

Carr says the government is exploring whether it can appeal against the prosecutor's decision.

"Jock and his family will be understandably very disappointed by the prosecutor general's decision," Carr said in a statement on Wednesday, as cited by The Guardian.

"The Australian government will however examine whether options exist to have the matter reconsidered."

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would continue to provide consular assistance to Palfreeman and his family, Carr said.

Paul ‘Jock’ Palfreeman was sentenced for the December 2007 stabbing murder of a young Bulgarian man, Andrei Monov, and the attempted murder of Monov’s friend in a street fight in Sofia.

Palfreeman was 24 then. His sentence was confirmed by a Bulgarian last instance court in July 2011.

In its decision, the Bulgarian prosecution stated Tuesday that according to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, transfer is a legal option among others.

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov decided that the small time spent by Palfreeman in jail, currenly 5 years and 10 month, is not enough to fulfill the goals of his punishment.

The prosecution also added that the Australian has committed a number of grave delinquencies while serving his sentence.