Legal Commentary

Report: Peru Detectives to Request Murder Charge Against Joran Van der Sloot

By Jeralyn

News reports from Peru tonight say detectives in Peru will release their report tomorrow recommending Joran Van der Sloot be charged with homicide, not manslaughter, which carries a sentence of between 15 and 35 years. (Google translation here.)

The report lists as aggravating factors that he concealed evidence and fled the country. Also considered key: The statements of the hotel receptionist Adeli Abad and her supervisor, Antonio Kuanand that of Uruguayan poker player Elton Garcia. [More...]

According to the report, the fact that convinced them the murder charge is appropriate are these: that Joran left to get coffee and returned to the room, killed Stephany Flores, and then went down to the reception area again (holding one of the coffees) and paid for another two nights, and within minutes left the hotel with his belongings.

If I understand the Spanish version of the article, the report also states that Joran told his interrogators he met Stephany in the casino on May 28 and they exchanged phone numbers and made arrangements to meet at the casino Saturday night. He also told them there were no romantic intentions, and that they were playing online poker on his computer.

Joran now has a lawyer who arrived in Peru last night and immediately went to the police station where he is being held. No details yet on who that is.

Tomorrow this report will go to the public prosecutor, and then to the court.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 10, 2010 (boomark / email).