Joran Van Der Sloot Claims He Was “Tricked” Into Confessing To Murder
In a Dutch newspaper article published on June 21, 2010, Joran van der Sloot claims Peruvian police “tricked” him into confessing to the murder of Stephany Flores Ramirez.
Previously, van der Sloot had been suspected of murdering American teen Natalee Holloway, though he was never formally charged.
In a jail interview, van der Sloot told journalists that he was in a “blind panic” when he signed his confession documents and did not know what he was signing. He also claimed that if he confessed, Peruvian police had promised him that he would be transferred to the Netherlands.
In the United States, under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, coerced confessions cannot be used against a defendant. If an accused challenges the legality of a confession, the court must determine whether the confession was in fact “legally” coerced.
A relevant factor in determining whether a confession was coerced is the physical, mental, and emotional state of the defendant at the time of the confession. The Court has held that confessions obtained through prolonged interrogation or torture are coerced.
Instead of overt physical violence, police officers are trained to use psychological tricks during criminal interrogation to pressure suspects to confess. These interrogation techniques include manipulating the environment (using bright lights and placing suspects in a starkly furnished room), the “good cop/bad copy” dynamic, exaggerating the evidence against the suspect, or lying to the suspect by saying that another person has already implicated him. Though the Court has recognized that police psychologically pressure suspects to give false confessions, that pressure is only one factor in determining whether a confession was coerced.
Once a confession is given, it is difficult for prosecutors or juries to disregard: they reason that only a guilty person would admit to a crime. Thus, never speak to law enforcement prior to retaining legal counsel to guide you. It can truly make the difference between winning and losing your case.
If you or a loved one have confessed to a crime because of police coercion, you will need experienced criminal attorneys who know the law and will vigorously defend you. At Wallin & Klarich, we have over 40 years experience in all aspects of criminal law, including exposing false and coerced confessions. We will find experts who will testify to the psychological tricks police use to pressure you to make a false or coerced confession. Call us today at (888) 280-6839 or visit us on our website at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.
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