Natalee Holloway Legacy: Spring Break 2006

The aftermath of Natalee Holloway missing in Aruba and the subsequent investigation in to her disappearance has brought the discussion of safety for Spring Break 2006 to the table.

It is a wake-up call to students and parents alike not to take things for granted and to stay safe. The following are some interesting reads:

Spring break: Girls gone mild

A new poll targeting female college students says the excessive drinking associated with spring break can result in unprotected sex and women being taken advantage of by male partyers. And in the case of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teen who went missing May 30 while attending a class trip to Aruba, it may have led to her death.
(Daily Local News)

Spring break: No vacation for parents — Tips for talking to your kids before they hit the beach

There can never be enough talk about safety, especially if alcohol and drugs are involved.

That should be the approach parents take when broaching the subject with their older children before the kids head out on spring break with their friends.
(The Stamford Advocate)

Spring Break Safety

Joe Tacopina Starts Joran Van der Sloot Legal Defense Fund

After making rather bold predictions the last two nights on the cable shows that the Twitty/Holloway law suit would be thrown out; Joe Tacopina has begun a Joran Van der Sloot Defense Fund. Tacapino filed his clients response yesterday (seen here) to the law suit.

Joe Tacopina has gone on record that it had no chance and Natalee’s parents law suit should be thrown out here, here and here.

“Joran and Paulus van der Sloot unequivocally and vehemently deny these allegations,” the motion papers say.

“My clients and I are sympathetic to the fact the plaintiffs do not know the present whereabouts of their daughter,” Tacopina said in court papers. However, he says, “neither the plaintiffs’ hardship nor the vast media attention” this case has attracted “should serve to prevent the proper dismissal of this case.”

Wasn’t this supposed to be a pro bono case as previously reported?

The question that comes to mind is why? Why create a defense fund for Joran Van der Sloot at this point in time? A couple of key issues come to mind.

1. Is the case still pro bono?
2. Is Attorney Joe Tacopina not so confident that the case will be dismissed and will actually go forward?
3. What other reason would there be a need for a defense fund except to pay for his defendants travel expenses? Why would there be expenses if there were no case?

Joe Tacopina seemed pretty adamant on the cable shows that there would be no law suit going forward and even referenced if it did he would probably advise his clients to do a default judgment. (Video) (Video)

Is setting up a defense fund the first sign of weakness?

The other question that comes to mind is one wonders if the many who criticized and accused the Twitty’s of their Natalee Holloway Trust Fund will do the same with Joran’s?

Defense Fund information

Joe Tacopina’s Response to Holloway/Twitty Suit: The Empire Strikes Back

Today Joe Tacopina, attorney for Joran and Paul Van der Sloot, filed his response to the Twitty/Holloway civil law suit against his clients.

Atty Joe Tacopina Court Document Filings

Last night Defense Attorney Joe Tacopina went on the attack last night promising counter lawsuits against Natalee Holloway’s parents and all those who are calling his client “a murderer and a sexual predator without a stitch of evidence.”

Go to JoranVan der Sloot Blog for video

So much for individual’s rights to have an opinion and to voice them. I guess Joe Tacopina is going to silence Gerold Dompig who stated the “boys are guilty as hell”. I guess he will also sue Karen Janssen and Steve Cohen who has also made comments that the boys are guilty.

Isn’t that why there should be a trial? To determine whether they are guilty or not guilty? That is the point of the civil law suit filed by Natalee Holloway’s parents. To determine whether Joran is responsible for that what is stated in the original suit. Let’s see of this plays out.

Greta Van Susteren; “I am inclined to believe him”

And with six short words one can only speculate the fire storm of emails that Greta Van Susteren received over the weekend. By the looks of the GretaWire it looks like someone was busy reading and replying to the ones that could be reprinted. One response is as follows from the GretaWire:

I did not say I believe him. What I said is that I am “inclined to believe him… that this is an ongoing investigation and a new fact could arise which would change all my views.” I don’t believe anyone until this is solved. No one should. I have my eyes wide open but if someone provides me information that is worthy of belief (consistent with known evidence), I am inclined to believe it but I leave the door wide open in case other evidence points at guilt. That is what I said (“get that potato out of your ear!”) Backstabbing arises if I am intellectually dishonest. A criminal investigation is not about picking sides, it is about trying to get the facts. Beth knows that I want to solve this case — but we need to make sure we get the truth, whatever it is. She wants the truth. I want the truth.

We would agree that one must keep an open mind, but that does not mean one forget what has been said to that point in time by a suspect. One first must understand why the suspect wanted to do the interview in the first place before keeping an open mind. What was Joran’s motive? The following comment still puzzles many who have emailed and taken issue with Greta:

I have my eyes wide open but if someone provides me information that is worthy of belief (consistent with known evidence) …

Someone who had admittedly lied to his parents, police, prosecutors, the Holloway’s & Twitty’s, journalists and most likely you Greta; is now suddenly “worthy of belief”? The reasons for the lies make no sense either other than if you were guilty of hiding something. Thus, many are puzzled by what you state as information being consistent with the evidence. What is more likely is having nine months to create a story that plays to what the known evidence is. Why else would there be lies all a long the way and know all of a sudden the truth?
Read more

Beth Twitty Brings “Save Yourself” Program to Ball State University

Beth Twitty later today will bring her Project “Save Yourself” to Muncie, IN and Ball State University. As Beth Twitty stated why she began the project, “I always said I wanted to give something back. This is a way to show our gratitude.”

Twitty will speak at 5 p.m. in the Ball State University Student Center. The program is sponsored by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department and is free to all area high school and college students. Twitty recently spoke to The Star about “Save Yourself.”

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your speaking engagements (Save Yourself Program)?
A: Our ultimate goal is to provide information to help young people be safe when traveling on their own. This is the time when lots of students will be heading to warmer climates for spring break. I just want them to think about their safety.
(The rest of the interview, Indy Star)