Joran Van Der Sloot Confesses to Murder of Stephany Flores

Dutch playboy Joran Van Der Sloot gave it up to Peruvian police during interrogation by police last night, confessing to the murder of Stephany Flores Ramirez in exchange for a reduced sentence. Peruvian law enforcement authorities are expected to bring Van Der Sloot to the hotel today so that he can demonstrate in detail how he killed the young Peruvian woman, daughter of a prominent Peruvian businessman, former race-car driver, and a man who once ran for President.

The first news of the Van Der Sloot confession came from American Television, but was widely disseminated through other media. Fox News, which has covered the story with reports from Mark Fuhrman on the ground in Peru, also reported the Van Der Sloot confession, as did several online sites.

According to one news source, Van Der Sloot flew into a rage when Stephany used his laptop to research Van Der Sloot's nefarious background.

The confession, if it can't be retracted under Peruvian law, or rescinded by an appeals court, removes the burden of a difficult and likely unsuccessful defense. Unlike the Natalee Holloway case, there is a body in Van Der Sloot's hotel room, surveillance film, and a plethora of other evidence likely to sink a defense case.

Peru does not have a death penalty, but Van Der Sloot is likely to aim at serving any prison term in more comfortable circumstances than he would find in Lima's main prison. Joran's influential father is deceased but his mother has reached out to the Dutch embassy in Peru to ensure that her son has humane treatment.

As things stand, Peru and the Netherlands do not have existing treaties or agreements for returning convicts to their home countries for serving sentences. However, the Dutch government is reported to be negotiating with Peruvian authorities on behalf of Citizen Van Der Sloot.

Peru is not bound by any such diplomatic entreaties. Given the bitter feelings about the murder, Peruvian authorities would be under considerable pressure to refuse any requests by the Netherlands to return Van Der Sloot to his native country. While Joran Van Der Sloot has an international legal right to request transfer, such a transfer would depend on the mutual consent of Joran Van Der Sloot, the Netherlands, and Peru.