Lawyer: Gary Giordano, Robyn Gardner's travel companion, should be released
(CBS/AP) ORANJESTAD, Aruba - Gary Giordano, the U.S. tourist detained in Aruba in connection with the mysterious disappearance of his travel companion Robyn Gardner has cooperated with investigators and should be released immediately because there is no evidence against him, his defense lawyer said Sunday.
Michael Lopez, the Aruban lawyer for Giordano, denied statements by prosecutors that his client is no longer answering questions about what happened to Gardner, his companion on a short trip to the Dutch Caribbean island.
"We cannot deduce that there is hard proof to sustain a demand by the public prosecutor against our client," said Lopez.
Giordano, a 50-year-old business owner from Gaithersburg, Maryland, has granted four interviews to investigators and accompanied them twice on visits to the area where he said Gardner disappeared while they went snorkeling.
"To date, our client has given all possible cooperation to the investigation," said Lopez in a written statement. "Where our client has been asked the same question more than once he referred to previous statements."
Meanwhile, Giordano is scheduled to appear before a judge today for a detention hearing. Aruban Solicitor General Taco Stein said Sunday that prosecutors intend to file a petition asking a judge to extend Giordano's detention for another eight days while authorities continue to investigate the case. Under the Aruban system, any charges would not be filed until later.
Stein previously told the Associated Press that investigators believe the 35-year-old woman from Frederick, Maryland, is dead.
Anyone with information leading about Robyn Gardner's location, please contact the Aruban authorities at 011-297-597-5201.
More on Crimesider
August 10, 2011 - Robyn Gardner's travel companion now a suspect in Aruba disappearance
August 9, 2011 - Md. woman Robyn Gardner missing in Aruba
