Thank goodness!
Peruvian Superior Court Judge Wilder Casique has denied a motion by the defense to void Joran Van Der Sloot‘s confession in the murder of 21-year-old Lima student Stephany Flores. The judge is ruling the confession to be valid since the attorney representing him at the time was state-appointed.
Van der Sloot had recanted the confession in a jailhouse interview, claiming that it was made under duress and he had no idea what he was signing.
Judge Casique, however, noted that Van der Sloot had been given a Dutch-Spanish interpreter vetted by the Dutch Embassy, in addition to his lawyer.
Defense attorney Maximo Altez says that they plan on appealing the judge decision to a higher court, but criminal law expert Jose Balcazar says whether or not they appeal, it “will not hold up the case against him.”
The defense is clearly trying to stall the trial to give Van der Sloot more time, but luckily Peruvian laws only allow up to six months in murder trials.
If convicted, Van der Sloot will face 15-35 years in prison.
He should be in prison for the rest of his life!
[Image via AP Images.]