Joran van der Sloot's lawyer quits, citing defense strategy dispute

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Joran Van der Sloot

/ AP Photo/Roberto Candia

(CBS/WIAT) Joran van der Sloot is looking for a lawyer days before a murder hearing.

Pictures: Joran van der Sloot, Natalee Holloway and Peru

According to CBS affiliate WIAT, Max Altez, van der Sloot's Peruvian lawyer for the past year, has quit the case citing differences in defense strategy. Radio Netherlands Worldwide indicates there was also an issue of Altez not being paid.

CNN reports that Altez' made an official request to a judge to withdraw from the case Tuesday morning.

Altez's resignation comes at a particularly inopportune time for van der Sloot. A hearing in the murder of Stephany Flores is scheduled for June 8.

Van der Sloot reportedly confessed he killed Flores after she found material relating to Natalee Holloway on his laptop.

The body of the 21-year-old student was found in van der Sloot's Lima hotel room five years to the day after Natalee disappeared while on vacation in Aruba. Although van der Sloot is considered the prime suspect in the Holloway case, he was never charged by Aruban authorities.

According to WIAT, it is unclear who will represent van der Sloot at the June 8 hearing or whether Altez' resignation will be sufficient for van der Sloot to get a continuance. Altez has indicated he will continue to represent van der Sloot in a related case claiming human rights violations during his arrest in Chile and return to Peru. That case would be thrown out if van der Sloot's representation changes.

Complete coverage of Joran van der Sloot on Crimesider

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Joran van der Sloot pleads guilty to Peru murder

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by MNIN021 June 6, 2011 2:06 PM EDT: dockie123 also writes under the by the names boycoyt, MaryS, MarySmith, MaryMary, RachelM, Debbie, and writes under anonymous as well. She isn't Joran fyi. Just some loser from Canada. She's just write this because she thinks it's funny.; Reply to this comment

by dockie123 June 1, 2011 5:17 PM EDT

This is a very unprofessional decision for Jorans attorney Alext.He bled the young man for all he had,and since Mr.Flores as ask not to allow media to talk with Joran ,Joran has ran out of funding.I dont think it was just because Joran was making money when he spoke to the media that Mr.Flores is worried about.There is more than what meets the eye in this case.I for one do not believe the Peru woman is dead,this murder was staged,and a simple DNA sample from the deceased would clear all of this up.For whom ever doesnt agree with me,you have got to stop and think if this was you or one of your children,im looking at both sides hear.Joran has all the rights for attorney,I know you would hope your kid had one if the tables were turn,huh?

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by claimsprocessor June 4, 2011 11:03 AM EDT: Hello Joran :-(

by jnostromo June 1, 2011 11:28 AM EDT

What is wrong with the peruvian jail system and the dangerous convicts it contains? This piece of garbage sgould have been taken out already...don't they know how ot sharpen a spoon or wood into a shiv?

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