understood spanish, he said he would ask for help if needed. van der sloot is accused in the robbery and beating death of 21-year-old stephany flores. >> translator: he beat her violently in the face, beat her in the head, took her pants off and finally choked her to death with a piece of clothing of his, stained with his own blood. >> translator: the killing happened on may 30th, 2010, exactly five years after alabama teenager natalee holloway disappeared in the caribbean island of aruba, after spending time with van der sloot. though arrested as a suspect in holloway's death, van der sloot, then 17, was never charged due to lack of evidence. in peru, van der sloot initially confessed to killing flores, but he later recanted. his attorneys say he was not given a translator during his interrogation. when asked for a plea by the presiding judge in the peruvian court friday, van der sloot said in spanish he wanted to give a