LIMA, Peru — Joran van der Sloot, prime suspect in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway and set to go on trial for the murder of a Peruvian woman, has been dumped by his lawyer ahead of a crucial hearing, it was reported Tuesday.
The De Telegraaf said Maximo Altez walked out on his infamous client after quarreling over money and how best to mount his defense.
Van der Sloot, 23, has been held in custody in Peru for nearly a year over the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, whom he is accused of robbing and killing in his Lima hotel room in May 2010.
The Dutch national is urgently seeking a replacement for Altez ahead of a court appearance next week in which the public prosecutor will outline the evidence against him.
Van der Sloot also remains the chief suspect in the disappearance of Holloway, an 18-year-old student from Mountain Brook, Ala., who disappeared in May 2005 during a high school graduation trip to Aruba.
De Telegraaf said another reason for the fallout with Altez was a dispute with American lawyers hired by van der Sloot to deal with the Holloway allegations.
One apparently declared van der Sloot was prepared to be extradited to the States, despite Altez having repeatedly insisted this could never happen because there is no extradition treaty between the US and Peru.