The murder
trial of Dutchman Joran van der Sloot in the Peruvian capital Lima has been
adjourned to Wednesday, 11 September. During the first hearing, the Dutch
defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder followed by theft.
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Joran van
der Sloot (Photo: ANP)
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As a result
of the adjournment, Mr Van der Sloot won’t have to plead guilty or not guilty
to each separate count until next Wednesday. Observers say the move suggests
the defence will seek to argue for manslaughter instead of murder.
Mr Van der
Sloot is accused of murdering Stephany Flores in his Lima hotel room on 30 May
2010. The Public Prosecutor is expected to seek a 30-year prison term and a
fine of 50,000 euros. If Mr Van der Sloot pleads guilty, the court has 48 hours
to reach a verdict. If he pleads not guilty, the trial goes ahead.
Mr Van der
Sloot has admitted killing Ms Flores in his Lima hotel room. But he claims he
had acted on a violent impulse when he saw her read documents on his laptop
relating to the disappearance of US teenager Natalee Holloway.
The
24-year-old Dutchman is the main suspect in the disappearance of Ms Holloway on
the Caribbean island of Aruba in May 2005. He has never been charged due to
lack of evidence. Ms Holloway was 18 when she went missing. Ms Flores was 21
when she was killed.
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