Van der Sloot's attorney quits

LIMA, June 1 (UPI) -- The lawyer representing Dutch national Joran van der Sloot against murder allegations in Peru has quit, citing differences over defense strategy.

Van der Sloot, the one-time prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of U.S. teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba where he once lived, is accused of robbery and killing in the death of 21-year-old Stephany Flores. Peruvian authorities haven't filed official charges yet.

His attorney, Maximo Altez, filed papers to withdraw from the case Tuesday, CNN reported.

"I cannot defend this case in the way he wants me to," Altez said.

Flores' body was found in a Lima hotel room registered to van der Sloot in May 2010. Police say he stole money and bank cards from her wallet and fled to Chile, where he was arrested.

Van der Sloot, 23, is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing June 8. Once the case's discovery phase is complete, prosecutors will file charges and a trial date will be set.

Altez said he would still represent van der Sloot in a related habeas corpus case claiming human rights violations during his arrest. The matter would be dismissed if Altez withdrew from that case, CNN said.

Van der Sloot was once the main suspect in the disappearance of Holloway, who vanished while on a graduation trip to Aruba. While arrested twice, he never was charged in her disappearance. A federal jury sitting in Alabama indicted him on charges of trying to extort $250,000 from the Holloway family for offering to provide information about the location of the teen's remains. The information turned out to be fake.