Australian Jock Palfreeman has moved a step closer to returning home after being granted parole by a panel of three judges at the Sofia Appellate Court in Bulgaria.

Key points: Jock Palfreeman was sentenced to 20 years' jail for the murder of a man in December 2007

Jock Palfreeman was sentenced to 20 years' jail for the murder of a man in December 2007 Palfreeman always insisted he had come to the aid of a Gypsy who was being attacked by drunken youths

Palfreeman always insisted he had come to the aid of a Gypsy who was being attacked by drunken youths The Australian worked as an advocate for reform in Bulgarian prisons during his 11 years in jail

Palfreeman, 32, has been incarcerated since December 2007, when he was charged with the murder of law student Andrei Monov and attempted murder of Antoan Zahariev in a street melee.

"I'm extremely pleased," Palfreeman's lawyer, Kalin Angelov said.

"Surprised in a very good way."

Palfreeman's father, Newcastle pathologist Simon Palfreeman, said the family was overjoyed but still waiting to get details of the parole conditions.

"We're hoping to be reunited with him as soon as possible," Dr Palfreeman said.

"The family is very happy with the court's judgement, but at this stage we don't know how in practice it will affect Jock and don't want to speculate, so we won’t be providing any further comment."

In 2009, Palfreeman was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years.

The Australian has always claimed he ran to the assistance of a Gypsy who was being attacked by a group of drunk Bulgarian youths in downtown Sofia.

The prosecution argued Palfreeman set upon a group of young people unprovoked.

Simon Palfreeman, who visited his son in prison earlier this year, said they were still waiting for the parole details. ( Australian Story: Belinda Hawkins )

Last year, he withdrew his application for parole after Mr Monov's father mounted a protest outside the courthouse and threatened to injure him if he walked free.

Earlier this year the first instance court rejected his application.

Palfreeman helped to establish the Bulgarian Prisoners' Rehabilitation Association, the first union for convicted prisoners in the former Soviet satellite.

In April, Palfreeman went on hunger strike to draw attention to what Bulgarian human rights advocate Krassimir Kanev said was a witch hunt by the Deputy Justice Minister in response to the Australian's work as an advocate for Bulgarian prison reform.

He broke the strike action after four weeks so that he could see his 86-year-old grandfather Tony Palfreeman, who travelled to Sofia in May to see him.

The Australian has garnered support from a range of high-profile figures in entertainment, business and legal circles, including film maker Rachel Ward, who has visited him twice in prison, American actor Richard Gere and Geoffrey Robertson QC.

"That he is going to be released has gone some way to restoring my faith in the world," Ward said.

"It's like a weight has come off my shoulders."

"The appeal court's decision is final," said Bulgaria Helsinki Committee President, Dr Kanev.

"It's a just decision. There is no reason for Jock Palfreeman not to be released on parole.

"He has served enough of his sentence — it's almost twelve years now.

"In this situation many other prisoners have been released by now."