Joran Van Der Sloot in Court: Retracts Confession 'I Was Tricked'

Joran Van Der Sloot Appears in Court in Peru For a Hearing But Dutch Newspaper De Telegraaf Says He Has Retracted His Confession

Joran Van Der Sloot reportedly told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that he was 'tricked' in to signing a confession that he killed 21-year-old Stephany Flores and he was so scared and confused that he did not even known what he was signing.

• First Look at Van Der Sloot's Prison Cell
• Crime Scene Photos Released
• Joran Van Der Sloot's Mug Shot
• Joran Van Der Sloot Fears He Will Be Killed in Prison
• Peru Prison Conditions
• Peru and the Death Penalty

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The Peruvian police say they had a signed confession from Van Der Sloot and even released the transcript of the confession. He now says that he only confessed and signed that confession because he was apparently told that if he did he would be sent back to the Netherlands.

Van Der Sloot said a similar thing twice in connection to Natalee Holloway's disappearance, for which he was arrested twice but never charged. He had confessed to her murder as well and then retracted his confession saying he was confused and scared and just said anything so that he could leave.

Anita Van Der Sloot Says Joran Was Mentally Ill

Anita Van Der Sloot also spoke to De Telegraaf saying that Joran was mentally unwell and that he only went to Peru so that he did not have to enter a psychiatric hospital and be placed under high security. Mrs. Van Der Sloot claims her son suffered terribly when his father died and said that Joran blamed himself.

She did not address the killing of Stephany Flores however:

She also conducted an interview via e-mail with ABC and told them:

Joran Van Der Sloot Expected to Highlight the Violation of His Rights

According to CNN, Van Der Sloot's attorney Maximo Altez said that the court should dismiss his clients confession because his rights were violated during the investigation and Van Der Sloot himself is expected to speak about that in court.

Police say they obtained the confession correctly however and are standing by their evidence.

According to the transcript released to the media: