Dutchman Joran van der Sloot is to go on trial in the Peruvian capital Lima on Friday. He is accused of murdering Stephany Flores in his Lima hotel room on 30 May 2010.
Lima’s Public Prosecutor has announced he will seek a 30-year prison term and a fine of 50,000 euros. The trial, which is expected to attract considerable media coverage, will begin at 10.00 hours local time. The trial will be held in Lima’s Lurigancho prison near the Castro Castro prison where Van der Sloot is on remand.
When questioned by the Peruvian authorities, Van der Sloot admitted killing Ms Flores in his Lima hotel room. He said he 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 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.