How Long Will Joran Van Der Sloot Spend In Prison?

Today, Joran van der Sloot will walk Peruvian police through the hotel where he murdered Stephany Flores late last month. For this crime, he could spend 35 years in jail. But then again, he might be out in seven.

On Monday, Van der Sloot confessed to beating Flores to death after he caught her looking at “personal” information on his laptop. He says he was so angry that she was snooping into his life – i.e. she figured out that he was probably responsible for the disappearance of American teen Natalee Holloway in Aruba – that he hit her repeatedly, most likely with his tennis racket. She died on May 30th. Her body was found several days later.

In the reenactment, Van der Sloot will take police through the events of that night, from the time that he left to hotel to get coffee to the moment he returned and discovered Flores using his computer. “The reenactment is necessary because officers can visually see what was taking place when the crime was committed. It lets officers establish if there are inconsistencies in a defendant’s statement,” says Carlos Neyra, a spokesperson for the investigative police. It could also influence how Van der Sloot is sentenced.

Currently, Van der Sloot’s account could result in a charge of homicide or second-degree murder. According to his version, the murder was not premeditated and he killed out of anger – not desire to rob the victim. These factors could lead to a sentence as low as 15 years. According to some legal experts, with good behavior, Van der Sloot could be released from prison by the age of 30.

However, this is the worst case scenario, but even the highest penalty in Peru, 35 years, would have Van der Sloot out by the age of 57. Peru does not have a death penalty or life sentence.

Van der Sloot also faces criminal charges in Alabama for attempting to extort $250,000 from Natalee Holloway’s family. Bo Dietl, a private investigator and retired New York City detective, says that Van der Sloot should have been arrested for extortion last month. Dietl, who was hired to investigate the charges, says Van der Sloot received $25,000 from the FBI as part of a sting operation before he left for Peru.

Why Peru’s Police Need Joran Van Der Sloot To Reenact Killing [Christian Science Monitor]
Will Van Der Sloot Get A Slap On The Wrist For Murder? [Fox News]
Latest Developments On The Joran Van Der Sloot Case [CNN]
Joran Van Der Sloot Had $25 K From FBI Sting [AP]