Photo Credit: Associated Press

Anyone who saw a photo of Joran van der Sloot entering the courtroom to start his trial in Lima, Peru would be prompted to say that the 24-year-old jet-setter and former athlete has seen better days.  The previously dashing teen (accused in the disappearance and death of American Natalee Holloway in Aruba back in 2005) is looking a bit worse for the wear just a few years later, sporting a shaved head, a sallow complexion, puffiness, and the dark under-eye bags of a much older man (not to mention a terribly attractive bullet-proof vest).  Apparently prison hasn’t agreed with the Dutch national, but perhaps he should have thought of that before he [allegedly] became involved in the death of another woman and then fled the authorities.  In a country that has already virtually convicted him, he must now decide whether or not he will plead guilty to the crime he was accused of (the mugging and murder of Stephany Ramirez five years to the day after Holloway’s disappearance).  And apparently he’s not quite ready.

He reportedly told Judge Victoria Montoya that he wants to make a “sincere confession”, this after he originally confessed when authorities brought him in back in 2010, then later recanted, saying that he was intimidated and coerced into making the confession (a Peruvian judge has already ruled that the confession will stand).  But he also stated that he doesn’t “agree with the arguments the public ministry made”, and that he needs to take that into consideration before he settles on a plea.  In a surprising move, the judge agreed to adjourn the trial for a week in order to give van der Sloot the time he requested.  For those that don’t know, a sincere confession in the Peruvian legal system is actually a form of guilty plea that generally comes with some type of reduction in sentence (presumably as an incentive for saving the courts time and money on trials).  So the judge is no doubt hoping that offering a bit of leniency now will result in such a plea when the court reconvenes on January 11^th.  But if van der Sloot’s past history is any indication, a sincere confession is not in the cards.

Joran van der Sloot has been a notoriously slippery character.  Although he was cited and held as the main suspect in Holloway’s disappearance back in 2005, he was able to slip the noose due to a lack of evidence (and alleged tampering by Holloway’s parents, who were so convinced that van der Sloot was at fault that they later served him with a civil suit, although it was dismissed).  He later admitted to lying to authorities to intentionally lead them off track, although he maintained his innocence in Holloway’s disappearance or death.  And even his mother has been reported as saying that (then teen) Joran had a problem with lying.

In truth, the court, the prosecution, and the defense team are likely facing an uphill battle with the notoriously uncooperative and cagey van der Sloot (not even DWI lawyers New Jersey bred, and used to tough cases, would want to take on such an impulsive and unpredictable client).  But considering that van der Sloot has very little chance of getting a fair trial in Peru, he may actually have to act in his own best interest by opting for a plea that will allow him the possibility of parole.  Otherwise he’s facing 30 years hard time.