Australian Jock Palfreeman has taken his first steps outside a Bulgarian prison after serving more than 11 years in jail for the murder of a local student.
Palfreeman, 32, took three steps out of the high-security Sofia Central Prison and then got into a waiting car. Migration authorities drove him to the Busmantsi Detention Centre on the outskirts of the Bulgarian capital.
According to Palfreeman's lawyer, he must now wait for a passport and other travel documents before he can leave Bulgaria.
Palfreeman has spent 11 years, 8 months and 21 days locked up after being charged with murder and attempted murder in December 2007, following a melee in which Bulgarian law student Andrei Monov sustained a single stab wound to his side and later died.
The Australian has always argued he ran to the assistance of a Roma (Gypsy) being attacked by more than 12 young men and then had to act in self-defence when the men turned on him.
The prosecution argued at trial that he had attacked the group unprovoked.
He was sentenced to 20 years' jail in 2009 with a non-parole period of 10 years.
His application for parole was rejected in July, however, the appellate court found that he had been rehabilitated and ordered that he be released on parole.
Palfreeman's lawyer, Kalin Angelov, said he would meet with his client at the detention centre.
"What happens next I don't know," Mr Angelov said.
