Not sailing related, but what is the Dutch perspective of Joran van der Sloot? Is he guilty or a victim of the overzealous US press corp? Big prime time show on his recent hidden camera confession (?) is tonight.

Terry, I don't think that prime-time undercover thing had anything to do with the US Press, it was all done by a local TV crew over there. My mind was not made up fully until I saw that, it's pretty hard for me to believe he didn't do exactly what he said he did (but I think he strangled her, not a seizure) then had a friend dump her body at sea.

Wouter, what's the take on it over there? Guilty or no?

I no longer live in the Netherlands, but still read and watch the dutch media and speak to folks overseas. It is a big media circus over there as well, but it is pretty clear that most everyone there believes he is guilty too. The tapes were aired on tv there yesterday, and he confessed multiple times that he dumped her body in the ocean after "she stopped moving" following them making out on the beach...he did not confess to actually killing her on the tapes. By the way, the crime reporter (Peter R. de Vries) who set the whole thing up is a pretty controversial person himself.

I agree that the latest was done purely by the local investigative reporter, but the US press will not let the story drop after 3 years (?)- maybe they shouldn't either (if he is guilty).

I live in the suburb of Birmingham, Alabama where NH was from and know everyone here thinks he is guilty - of at least a cover up and at most outright murder. I thought it would be interesting to get an international opinon.

Thanks for the input Arie. Wouter? Anyone?

Another observation: my brother-in-law, who is a high ranking police officer in the Netherlands, was in the Netherlands Antilles when this first happened working with the police there (not on this case though). He told me at that point the local police was already convinced of his involvement. They just could never pin it on him due to the lack of physical evidence or witnesses...
And that will still be an issue after these tapes have become public. It is one thing to do a journalistic undercover operation, getting this submitted as evidence in court is a whole different issue. There are pretty strong laws over there regarding undercover stuff, and it is very well possible that this will never make it into a courtroom....

I don't have a television connection and this story largely passed by me. I know the basic points and stuff from reading the internet news outlets but not much of the new stuff. Sorry.

But I do find it pretty weird he would "confess" to doing it when he has been arrested in relation to the case twice and is under strong (international) scrutiny. And irrespectible of whether he is indeed guilty or not, the unmistakeble verdict is already that he is inmensely stupid. He is stupid for confessing to it if he did and just as stupid for doing that if he isn't guilty.

Simply mind boogling !

Wouter

What was his motive?

He claimed he panicked after she became unresponsive, called a friend with a boat, and decided to dump the body in a spot that is known to have off-shore currents and lots of sharks. My brother-in-law said that that spot is well known by the criminal element on the island for exactly that purpose....they suspected this exact scenario right from the start but were unable to find any evidence.
Under local law, you cannot be convicted on just a confession without corroborating hard evidence, so there is a good chance is still will get away with it if they are not able to come up with that.

Somebody needs to take him on a little fishing trip to that spot and see if he can swim back...with an anchor tied to his legs! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well put!!!