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Joran Van der Sloot En Route to Peru, Denies Killing Flores

Joran Van der Sloot, expelled from Chile, is en route to Peru where officials want to question him about the murder of Stephany Flores.

It will be a long day -- he left Chile at 8:55 a.m. (handcuffed this time) with three detectives in a plane.

The plane will undertake the five hour plus journey to the border, stopping in San Padro de Atacama to refuel, before touching down in Arica, in the north of Chile. The suspect will then be taken over the border to Peru by land and handed over to Peruvian authorities.

On their side, Peruvian police have begun arrangements to receive the suspect at Santa Rosa, Tacna, the southernmost city in Peru. From Tacna, van der Sloot will be transported by air to the the Peruvian capital, Lima.

To avoid the delays an extradition process can take, Chile agreed to expel Joran as being "an undesirable" or illegally in the country, which allows them to return him to the country from which he crossed into Chile, which is Peru. [More...]

Joran has denied killing Flores.

Fernando Ovalle, deputy prefect of Aliens of the Investigative Police of Chile (PDI), told local media that Van der Sloot "obviously denies any involvement they may have in fact against him."

Once back in Peru,

Once back in Peru, van der Sloot will be held for an initial 24-hour arrest warrant. The police can then request that the judge assigned to the case extend the detention for seven to 14 days to further the investigation. The judge will determine whether to keep the suspect behind bars or release him while he awaits trial. The investigative police say van der Sloot is unlikely to be let out on bail.

Dutch news reports Joran talked to his mother last night and did not confess to killing Flores. Their family lawyer is trying to get word to him to retain a criminal defense lawyer experienced in South American international criminal law.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Hotel staff statement (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by waldenpond on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:34:14 PM EST
    They saw Van Der Sloot leaving with two suitcases, asked if he was checking out, he said no .. he would be back in a few hours, they say he told them not to clean the room and that the 'do not disturb' sign was left on the door.

    Statements of police chief and truck driver (none / 0) (#60)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:54:04 PM EST
    So far....

    The police chief said Flores was killed between 5 a.m. Sunday, when the victim and suspect were seen entering his room by a hotel employee, and about 8:45 a.m., when two people saw van der Sloot leave.

    "Various things aren't very clear," Guardia said, among them the killer's motive.

    It certainly wasn't money, he said. Van der Sloot had no problem paying for his travel to Chile.

    Truck driver Luis Aparcana said van der Sloot gave him 1,500 Peruvian soles ($525) to take him from Ica, a town south of Lima, to the Chilean border. The Dutchman didn't speak Spanish very well and carried two suitcases, Aparcana said in a TV interview.

    Aparcana said van der Sloot appeared "worried, because he kept smoking cigarettes."

    "He didn't have a cell phone but he had a laptop that he would take out, handle and then put back."



    Parent
    sounds like their time (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 04:10:58 PM EST
    of death is based on when he left. They assume he did it are saying she died between when they arrived at 5 and he left at 9.

    I'll wait till I hear what a medical examiner says as to date and proximate time of death. Since she was buried yesterday, I hope they did a proper autopsy.

    Parent

    She was buried (none / 0) (#63)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 04:17:05 PM EST
    today.  They did the autopsy yesterday.

    Parent
    Yes, sure sounds like they (none / 0) (#65)
    by ruffian on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 04:41:17 PM EST
    are backing into the time of death based on when they were together in the room. Might be they just aren't saying more, but I'd like a medical opinion, please!

    Parent
    Missed link (none / 0) (#61)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:55:55 PM EST
    From KOLD news

    Parent
    Anger Management? (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 12:41:10 PM EST
    Sounds like you are part of a lynch mob or something. Not sure what country you live in but here, most reasonable people presume innocence. Well, it is true that some here at TL are not reasonable in these matters. They claim to have the same mind reading, fortune telling ability that you are claiming to have.

    Do you also predict correct lottery numbers? What is your track record on that?

    Oh ..... my ........ G0D ..... (3.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Yman on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:03:04 PM EST
    ... some here at TL are not reasonable in these matters. They claim to have the same mind reading, fortune telling ability that you are claiming to have.

    Please stop.

    My ribs are still sore from all the laughing a couple days ago ...

    Parent

    Slipping as to "not sure which (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:12:55 PM EST
    country you live in."

    Parent
    that comment was deleted (none / 0) (#71)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Jun 06, 2010 at 01:51:24 AM EST
    and the commenter, a first-timer,  banned

    Parent
    I believe it's no reflection on his (none / 0) (#4)
    by observed on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:04:56 PM EST
    presumption of innocence to observe that Van der Sloot is no Ted Bundy. He must be quite a moron.

    Why Is He A Moron? (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:09:15 PM EST
    Well, if he is a serial killer, he's (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by observed on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:22:20 PM EST
    got no technique. If he's not, then it's awfully dumb of him to keep "dating" girls who turn up dead.

    Parent
    Is he looking for the real killer? (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:23:45 PM EST
    Ha! (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:29:45 PM EST
    He's searching for Superwoman, (none / 0) (#30)
    by observed on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:46:25 PM EST
    just like in Invincible.

    Parent
    Killing a second woman (none / 0) (#8)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:19:45 PM EST
    on the anniversary of the first...in his hotel room...leaving her there.... then there is the wire fraud bit....

    So I'll give him the "presumed."

    But it looks like I am wrong.

    Parent

    Oh yeah, the multiple confessions (none / 0) (#51)
    by observed on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:09:23 PM EST
    to killing Holloway---not too bright.

    Parent
    Hey, GWB admitted to war crimes the other night (none / 0) (#54)
    by ruffian on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:11:35 PM EST
    bragging about waterboarding KSM, and I don't see anyone arresting him. I guess anything goes.

    Parent
    Oh Joren! (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:18:28 PM EST
    Why do young murder suspects act like reality-TV stars rather than murder suspects?

    For his part, van der Sloot's escapades are well chronicled, particularly by the Dutch tabloids. He has posed nude for an online porn site, and European broadcasters have complained that he often demands payment for his television appearances--especially when he confesses--about the Holloway case. During a recent trip to Thailand he hinted that he wouldn't mind getting into the business of sex trafficking and even joked that he'd sold Holloway as a sex slave. He was in Lima to take part in an international poker tournament known for its drug climate.

    His friends in Holland and Aruba say his reputation is one of arrogance and self-entitlement. When Peter R. de Vries, one of Holland's toughest crime reporters (picture the male Greta Van Susteren) questioned him on a television program about Holloway's murder, his response was to throw a glass of wine in the journalist's face the moment the show ended. "This says something about Joran," de Vries said after the broadcast. "He doesn't have complete control over his behavior."

    Hmmm... maybe there's his out.

    Even his own lawywer says he brings a lot of on himself.

    The court of public opinion can still reach into the court of law. New York lawyer Joseph Tacopina, who consulted Knox's defense and represented van der Sloot in the Holloway case in Aruba, maintains that both are victims of bad press, but admits the prejudice is largely fed by their own actions. "In both instances, the sensationalism far outweighed the facts of the cases," he told NEWSWEEK.


    Is this guy following Levi Johnston's (none / 0) (#9)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:21:52 PM EST
    career path or vice versa?

    Parent
    Maybe (none / 0) (#15)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:25:23 PM EST
    The two of them can get a reality show together.

    Parent
    I have never known (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:23:00 PM EST
    a poker tournament that was known for its drug climate....

    In fact, most professional players don't drink at the table...

    Perhaps you can provide some details????

    Parent

    Are you sh*ttin' us? (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:36:21 PM EST
    poker rooms are a black market utopia Jim.

    Want some adderall, some blow, some reefer, a hooker...find the nearest poker room and you're all set.  Even had a guy try to sell me one of those morphine lollypops once at the Taj.

    Parent

    Morphine lollipops?!? (none / 0) (#27)
    by Yman on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:40:45 PM EST
    Never knew such a thing even existed.

    Wonder how many licks it takes to get to the center ...

    Parent

    3 (none / 0) (#29)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:43:26 PM EST
    The wonderful game of poker Yman... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:52:52 PM EST
    it's educational in ways beyond mathematics:)

    Parent
    Maybe in the "private" world (none / 0) (#64)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 04:29:28 PM EST
    But I have never seen anything around the legit clubs and rooms..

    Parent
    The Taj... (none / 0) (#66)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 06:21:25 PM EST
    and The Borgata in AC are not legit?  Mohegan Sun closed their poker room (since reopened) over a cocaine and hooker scandal involving dealers.

    It's always been there Jim, just under the surface...if you're not in the market for anything I could see how you could miss it:)...check out poker blogger Dr. Pauly for first-hand hijinks...he's hysterical.  Half the Rio is on the addies right now:)

    Parent

    Could be. I have seen (none / 0) (#69)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 11:50:02 PM EST
    Ladies of the Evening wandering through. But never any overt signs that someone was buying and selling dope...

    It doesn't bother me. A drunk or a player high on dope is money in my pocket.

    In CA the Card Casinos cannot comp booze but let you eat all you want at the table.. and the menu is large and the food good.

    I gain 5 pounds every trip I make to the Commerce and then have to work it off.

    Parent

    I'm just the messenger (none / 0) (#14)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:24:07 PM EST
    Story was from Newsweek / MSNBC.

    Parent
    I searched the tourney's website, (none / 0) (#16)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:26:08 PM EST
    Van der Sloot is not on it as a registered player. The site may not be up to date however.

    Parent
    Still picturing the male Greta Van Susteren (none / 0) (#32)
    by ruffian on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:50:59 PM EST
    Kind of trippy....

    Parent
    On "Good Morning America" (none / 0) (#17)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:28:00 PM EST
    Famed criminal defense lawyer Roy Black told ABC's "Good Morning America" that, "The murder case in Peru takes precedence over" the extortion charges, and that the chances of van der Sloot getting extradited to Alabama "are zero."

    "He's going to get a very long sentence in Peru," Black said. "By the time he gets out of jail, if he ever does, this would be a footnote in history."

    The lawyer said, however, that the Holloway disappearance could be used "as evidence of proof in Peru," and the Holloway family may ask a Peru court "for a longer sentence because of Natalee's murder."

    Link

    Shame on Roy Black. He, of all people, (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:32:47 PM EST
    shouldn't publicly pronounce a suspect guilty before trial.

    Parent
    he hasn't been charged let alone convicted (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:06:21 PM EST
    of the Holloway murder, I don't see why Peru would give weight to the Holloway family's preferences.

    Parent
    Dare I mention the Polanski victim? (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:27:08 PM EST
    Who was represented by counsel who filed motions before the plea bargain?

    Parent
    don't get the connection (none / 0) (#44)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:30:41 PM EST
    the victim in the Polanski case filed motions pertaining to her case, not someone else's. Holloway is not the victim in Peru, Flores is. Holloway should be irrelevant.

    Parent
    Actually, I agree. (none / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:38:45 PM EST
    What does (none / 0) (#47)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:51:54 PM EST
    Peruvian law allow for?

    Parent
    Can they bring in (none / 0) (#48)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:04:26 PM EST
    His apparently multiple confessions in the Holloway case?

    Parent
    Peru's judicial system (none / 0) (#49)
    by Zorba on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:04:54 PM EST
    is more or less based on the Napoleonic Code.  Do we have any experts on the Napoleonic Code around here?  Because who knows what they would permit?  All I know about the Napoleonic Code is that it has a presumption of guilt, and you must prove your innocence to the court.    

    Parent
    Lupin is our resident expert. (none / 0) (#50)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:08:45 PM EST
    From what I've been gathering (none / 0) (#52)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:10:56 PM EST
    They do have a presumption of innocence written in their laws, but I've also read it's still more or less that the defendant has to prove his innocence.

    They also have panels of judges, not juries.

    Peru is not known for niceties in its legal system.

    Parent

    Huh? (none / 0) (#55)
    by Zorba on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:26:42 PM EST
    "Presumption" of innocence, but you still have to prove your innocence, as opposed to the state having to prove your guilt?  OTOH, with some of the juries we get here in the USA, and with some of the prosecutors, I would argue that, far too often (not always, but too often), we get the (informal, at least) "presumption of guilt," and it's not helped when big-mouthed politicians, or even DA's, weigh in on suspects before they're even tried, as also happens.

    Parent
    Sounds like it's (none / 0) (#56)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:29:18 PM EST
    A Wink wink, thing, I guess.

    Of course, in this case, the only people I've heard chiming in are criminal defense attorneys and the families of Natalee and Stephany.

    Parent

    Wasn't TL just talking about (none / 0) (#59)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:44:26 PM EST
    The woman tried in Peru in military tribunal who subsequently got a civil court criminal retrial due to efforts of U.S. Dept. of State?

    Also, I attended jury selection in a French courtroom for a criminal trial.  Three judges and maybe six jurors.  All sat at large bench in front on a dais.

    Parent

    So would the multiple confessions (none / 0) (#53)
    by observed on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:11:20 PM EST
    to Holloway's murder be relevant under a system with the presumption of guilt?

    Parent
    And (none / 0) (#58)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 03:41:37 PM EST
    If he is convicted in Peru, would he a) confess to killing Holloway (correctly this time), or b) could the Aruban officials use a Peruvian conviction, and then bring in his multiple confessions and try him for the Holloway murder.

    It still is an open case and he still is the number one suspect.

    Parent

    And who the heck knows? (none / 0) (#67)
    by Zorba on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 07:09:07 PM EST
    Aruba is still part of The Netherlands, and would follow Dutch legal proceedings.  I think that The Netherlands still is influenced by the Napoleonic Code, so Aruba would be, too.  But what relevance that a Peruvian conviction (if it happens) would have on anything subsequent in Aruba, I have no idea.

    Parent
    Not sure what country he lives in either (none / 0) (#18)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:28:44 PM EST
    If you're talking about Sloot (none / 0) (#20)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:32:32 PM EST
    he was attending college in the Netherlands before he hopped down to America del Sur for some R&R and the poker tourney...

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#23)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:33:20 PM EST
    Poking fun at another comment.

    :)

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:33:00 PM EST
    We know by now that if it were up to you, the US would do away with silly details like trials and defense lawyers.

    Our justice system is a waste of time and money, not any fun, and  besides a good public execution keeps everyone happy and in line.

    Parent

    Too bad (none / 0) (#24)
    by jbindc on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:33:48 PM EST
    This case has nothing to do with the US justice system.

    Parent
    Isn't he a "Dutch playboy"? That's (none / 0) (#25)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:33:52 PM EST
    what I read here yesterday.  

    P.S. Why am I reading this stuff?

    Parent

    "There are only 2 things... (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:41:14 PM EST
    I hate in this world.  People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch."

    - Nigel Powers

    Parent

    awww (none / 0) (#34)
    by CST on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 01:57:36 PM EST
    have you ever seen rush hour in amsterdam??

    All those Dutch business people riding bikes?

    It's kind of adorable.  If grown-ups can be adorable.

    Parent

    Just joshing... (none / 0) (#36)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:02:28 PM EST
    that's the Austin Powers Goldmember line my buddy dropped as we discussed Sloot over some bingos last night...had me on the floor...ya had to be there!

    Of course I got love for the Dutch...they run a more civilized society than us, though that might be changing as they go more right-wing.

    Parent

    Any people who think that (5.00 / 3) (#38)
    by observed on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:09:37 PM EST
    chocolate is all you need to make a sandwich are ok by me.

    Parent
    Dead woman. Her last known whereabouts (none / 0) (#43)
    by Buckeye on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:29:16 PM EST
    was with Joran.  Same hotel room.  Same day 5 years ago Holloway died...

    Seems like a lot of coincidences.

    and two to three days (none / 0) (#45)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 02:35:16 PM EST
    between when Joran left the country and the body was discovered. Until the date and approximate time of death is fixed as being while Joran was still in Peru (by a competent medical examiner, not by newspaper rumor and innuendo), there's a big "if" here, coincidences aside.

    Holloway didn't go to Joran's hotel room and wasn't killed in a hotel room (that anyone is aware of). I'd add she probably didn't have her neck snapped, but since there's no body, it's unknown how she died.

    Parent

    Weapon is baseball bat (none / 0) (#68)
    by waldenpond on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 07:44:00 PM EST
    Seems likely this will be legitimate evidence... the baseball bat is rough enough, and the action vigorous enough that a hit broke the neck that DNA should have come off on the handle.

    Jeralyn, you thought maybe a boyfriend, but as she is a lesbian, that was not likely so you mentioned the possibility of a girlfriend.  I had a hard time picturing a woman having the strength for that severe of a beating, but a baseball makes your suggestion seem more possible.

    On the other hand, she won money while gambling, which is missing and the motive is expected to be robbery.  Not hearing a scenario for jealousy yet.

    It appears (none / 0) (#70)
    by jbindc on Sat Jun 05, 2010 at 08:13:32 AM EST
    (Again, not my opinion, but what they were reporting on TV last night), that the $15,000 "down payment" he got (part of the extortion case) may have been his only real money, so robbery COULD be a motive.

    Parent