In an interview with a Peruvian television broadcaster on Saturday, Joran van der Sloot’s lawyer said his client’s trial for murder had ground to a halt because there is no officially certified translator.
The lawyer, Máximo Altez, was interviewed by Panamericana Televisión, which also showed a letter from the Peruvian Association of Officially Certified Translators. In the letter, the association said it had no members capable of translating Spanish into Dutch. The broadcaster also presented a 21 July letter from the Dutch Embassy in Peru stating that it was unable to provide an official translator. Mr Altez said the trial cannot proceed until the Peruvian authorities solve the translation problem.
Foreign Affairs
A representative for the Netherlands’ Foreign Ministry said in a response on Sunday evening that its embassies always provide lists of lawyers and recognised translators, from which Dutch citizens accused of a crime aboard can choose. Reliable lists are always available. The embassies themselves, said the representative, do not provide translators.
Stephany Flores
Joran van der Sloot is accused of the murder of a Peruvian student, Stephany Flores, in his hotel room in the capital Lima on 30 May. Although he has confessed to the police, he is now trying to have the confession declared invalid.
One of the arguments he is putting forward is that no officially certified translator was present at his interrogations. Although a judge rejected this claim on 25 June, Mr Van der Sloot has appealed against the decision. Peruvian justice officials have said a ruling would be issued in a few days.
Natalee Holloway
Joran van der Sloot has long been the chief supect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, a US high school graduate who went missing on 30 May 2005 on Aruba and whose body has never been found. Although he was questioned several times by Aruban police, he has never been prosecuted.
Read more about Joran van der Sloot
Read more about Natalee Holloway
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I loved the part of the new interview where Joran says that he's teaching English to his guards -- and yet, he needs a translator. Yes, MaryS/Rachel M (any new names??) I know that he should get a certified translator but I'm just poking fun at the absurdity of his confessions, retraction,excuses... Our club starts up in two weeks -- are you going to be in Phoenix (is that your new code name for Cape Breton?)? We love your stories, pranks and silly goofs; don't mind the good-natured ribbing you get from us but you know you deserve it!
The really insightful bit of the interview for me is how much his brothers have turned against him. Arguably, they know him better than any of us. They are the ones who convinced their mother that Joran is guilty (only for Ms. Holloway as they don't have first hand knowledge of what happened in Lima) and are furious that he has gotten away with murder for so long. They are still living in Aruba and the word is out that Joran's friends have given up on the charade, "What, no body? He must be innocent!" The next to spill the beans will be the notorious brothers who helped Joran the night of the murder -- the Telegraaf newspaper is trying to get an exclusive interview if they can avoid prosecution.
Have you thought of any funny material to discredit Joran's brothers? Share it with us please!
Regarding Mary/Rachel/Eunice/Margaret's comment that a body should have washed up on shore by now, Mary was in Port Richey (in a Canadian enclave) before when the Florida newspapers had a story about a shark that was caught with a decomposed body inside it. The sea is filled with more dangers than Lake Ontario.
Hasn't all this drama about Joran been a great time? Rachel/Mary etc. you have made us all laugh. Go for it, gal!
I did notice that we finally shook-off nathalie. Unless MaryS. decides to "resurrect" her. LOL
Gosh, MaryS, for a troll, you sure do appear to be fighting tooth-and-nail on Jorans behalf! Maybe you should turn off the computer for a while and get some fresh air. BTW - Were you able to make it to Cape Breton this month? Sounds like a fun place to visit. I'd love to hear about it. ;-)
I do have a feeling he's innocent, that it is too much of a coincidence, five years to the day. Someone set this up with a great deal of planning (and money). Anyway, no, I didn't make it to Cape Breton, but I'm going to Phoenix next month. Looking forward to it - I've never been there.
Dress Cool. It's still in the triple digits!!
so who lied now?
officially documents shows us, it was not a officially sworn certified translator and they dont have one.
Good point, Nathalie. This whole case is a pack of lies.
I cannot believe any one wants to defend this man. A man his age should not be connected to two dead women, prostitution and extortion. He is a horrible man and I wish nothing but for him to pay for the horrors he has done in his short life.
"Connected." How about, "framed". Van der Sloot's in the country: blame all the missing/murdered women on him!
I cannot believe any one wants to defend this man. A man his age should not be connected to two dead women, prostitution and extortion. He is a horrible man and I wish nothing but for him to pay for the horrors he has done in his short life.
To Bad they won't hang him-- He such a Skumbag
So, I'm wondering, Peru is going out of its way to protect him before the trial. So after the trial, if/when he is found guilty, will he then be put in with the general population for 15-30 years (or 15-30 seconds - which ever comes first!) to serve his sentence?
Putting him in general population would be a violation of his human rights, because he can never be safe in a crowd of Peruvians.
A qualified interpreter is a trained professional. The Peruvians seem to think anyone who speaks Spanish and some Dutch will do.
Well, at least we know he is still alive.
Did you see the latest photo? Very much alive.
Yes, and soon will be out of Castro Castro when this travesty of a trial grinds to a halt.
Hopefully he will be knifed in prison
RachelM/MaryS well at least you still have your sense of humor! ha ha ha
I'm serious.
Sure! OK! Whatever you say. ;-)
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