PERU: Lawyer for Dutch murder suspect Joran Van der Sloot says his client may end up serving five years in a Peruvian prison

Record ID: 561442

  • Title: PERU: Lawyer for Dutch murder suspect Joran Van der Sloot says his client may end up serving five years in a Peruvian prison
  • Date: 26th May 2011
  • Summary: LIMA, PERU (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VAN DER SLOOT IN POLICE CUSTODY
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2011 13:00
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  • Location: Peru, Peru
  • Country: Peru
  • Reuters ID: LVAKFHOE45EH8V11P7OSCJ05X5I
  • Story Text: The lawyer representing Joran Van der Sloot, the young Dutch man linked to the mysterious disappearance of a young American woman, Natalee Holloway, six years ago in Aruba, says he expects his client to serve five years in a Peruvian prison for the death of a girl in that country nearly one year ago to the day.
    Van der Sloot was arrested a year ago for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, a business student whose body was found in a Lima hotel room registered under his name.
    Van der Sloot has been held since then, but the public prosecutors office has not yet formally charged him and it is not clear if they will seek out premeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 35 years or manslaughter for which he could face 20 years in prison.
    The lawyer representing the accused, Maximo Altez, said on Wednesday (May 25) he was petitioning for manslaughter.
    "We've presented all the documentation so that Joran Van der Sloot should be sentenced for manslaughter, for emotional violence. Our penal code calls for three to five years for this kind of crime and we believe this is what he deserves," said Altez.
    "If the prosecutor lodges charges of manslaughter or murder for emotional violence I was going to advise my client to admit guilt, but only in this case. In the case that the prosecutor charges aggravated murder I will advise my client that we go to trial," Altez added.
    Van der Sloot is also wanted in the United States for charges of blackmailing Holloway's family for information as to the whereabouts of the Alabama teen's body.
    "No, Joran Van der Sloot has a petition for his extradition for extortion of Natalee Holloway's family to which he says he is innocent of the charges and was the victim of a trap set up by the Holloway family through their lawyer John Kelly who deposited money before he agreed to sign a contract to reveal where the body of young Natalee Holloway was. And he declares he is innocent because he never sought this out. They offered it to him," Altez said.
    Holloway is presumed dead but her body was never found and police do not have enough evidence to build a murder case.
    Altez denied Van der Sloot would serve his prison term for the crime in Peru in a U.S. prison.
    "No, that is completely untrue. Mr. Van der Sloot is first sentenced in Peru and has to serve his time in Peru. Once he serves out his term in Peru he can be extradited to the United States," explained Altez.
    The lawyer said Van der Sloot's sentence could be reduced for good behavior and for working behind prison walls, something his client is already doing.
    "OK, supposing Mr. Van der Sloot is imprisoned for manslaughter at 20 years of prison which is 240 months. After 80 months he could be eligible for release and these 80 months could count two for one for work done in the prison, for good behavior or for study done in the prison making the sentence less than 80 months. I would say it would be about 60 months which is like five years plus one year that he has [already served]. I think you could say he will be released in about five years," said Altez.
    "In general terms he is fine. His is exercising, he is teaching English in the prison and in general terms, for someone incarcerated, I think he is doing pretty good," Altez added.
    Flores was killed on May 30, 2010, five years to the day after the Holloway disappearance.
    Van der Sloot traveled to Chile after Flores' death were he was arrested before being returned to Peru.
    He is the key suspect in the Holloway case and was arrested
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