Partial Transcript of On the Record with Greta - 8/4/05 show
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JtT = Junior thru Translator (Junior is the man that was collecting scrap metal at the dump)
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Greta: What did you see?
JtT: There was three who came before in a pick-up truck. Then one was already there on the field, then this other man and a woman along with 2 gentleman in the back came. Yeah there was a woman, a woman who was brunette, there were 2 men in the back on the jeep. Also there was this yellow car there.
Greta: What time of day?
JtT: This happened, well at the time I saw them bury her, it turns out that was the body of Natalee - the girl. At that time I thought it was just a piece of tree, a coconut tree - that is what I thought. It was wrapped in plastic - covered in plastic, but there was a breeze and then the bag sorta fell half way out. I saw half the body naked. It was a black plastic bag and a woman was wearing no clothes - she had no clothes on - she was naked - just half the body I saw.
I was by myself that time at the place where we dump garbage.
(someone asked him in his own language - How Far?)
JtT: How far? I was approximately 75 to 80 meters away. This was after, mmmm 4:30... 5:30, between 4:30 and 5:30. I felt there was something wrong but more people kept coming from nearby, so.
(someone in the background asked him about another truck)
JtT: There was another car with a woman, the yellow car had a woman there too, so I thought there was nothing. Total there were 3 cars - pickup with a small trailer in the back, then there was a jeep, and a yellow station wagon.
Greta: So when did you first call somebody about it?
JtT: I called the police that was - let me think, that happened on Monday or Sunday because at that time the pictures of the guy that they were looking for had not been published in the paper yet. That's right. Then I recognized them immediately when I saw the pictures.
(some asks him in his native language again, When did you contact police?)
JtT: I 'bout one day later I called the police. I was saying you know you just want to call and call and call, day and night - I kept calling but I kept getting a tape.
Greta: What is your level of certainty that your not mistaken?
JtT: Am I certain? - Yeah. I am really sure. That is why I think today I'm sure. I'm sure. I have no doubt in my mind.
(someone asked him something again in his native language)
JtT: Yes... Also the father I believe, yeah yeah yea also him because I even more sure that it was this girl because now there are two cars that the police has, two cars - the red jeep, I saw that, I saw that... but the red jeep was fine but that came later, because the next day I was near the place where she was buried, may she rest in peace. I was there maybe 9 days later
Greta: If there were 3 does the father make 4, or is the father one of the 3?
JtT: The father came in the jeep, he got out of the car, he was standing there, he was pointing and asking things. I was working you know but he far - he was talking - I was just working and looking. He kept asking if everything was ok.
(someone asks him something again in his native language)
JtT: Yeah they asked him. I thought that they were asking him, that's what I thought they were asking him... Where... Where...
Greta: Have the police interview him yet?
(Greta asking someone to ask JR if police have interviewed him yet)
JtT: The police did come to me and I pointed them to the place and they went there but my message never got to them, they did not come back because these was in my mind, it kept bothering me I said this to a friend of mine who lives nearby. I told her what happened. I said to her "No one believes me!"
Greta: What exactly did he see of the body?
JtT: Half body - I saw half the body and the hair flying in the wind - blowing in the wind. Then I was sure, if it had been a coconut tree then I would have seen the roots of it. You could see that but it wouldn't move - her hair was blowing. (meaning a coconut tree leaves would not flow like hair in the wind).
I saw half her body and it was naked - she was like this and her leg like this.
Thanks for posting the transcript. Wouldn't you think that this guy would have got his rear-end down to the police station in person when he couldn't reach them by phone? That's weird to me.
Here is how I understand it...
pickup with a small trailer in the back, (3 men in the truck came first - put a body in the landfill)
then there was a jeep, (man and woman in front with 2 men in back of Jeep - drove up while truck was there)
and a yellow station wagon. (one woman in this one- also drove up while the truck was there)
How much longer is it going to take for the media to speak with one voice and say: Aruban Law Enforcement and government officials are CORRUPT? Not negligent, but CORRUPT? Let's start a chorus, please!