Chandra Levy is in the news again: Chandra Levy Murder: Closed Hearings on New Questions

[MADem]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/questions-chandra-levy-case-closed-hearings-held/story?id=18307190


New questions are being raised surrounding the murder of Chandra Levy, the case that rocked official Washington and much of the nation in the summer of 2001 because of allegations she had been having an affair with then-Rep. Gary Condit (D-Calif.).

Closed hearings have been held to review information that may impeach the credibility of a witness who testified at the trial of Ingmar Guandique. In 2010, nearly a decade after Levy disappeared, Guandique was convicted of murdering her. He was already in prison for other crimes, and was sentenced to 60 years in prison in Levy's death. Now a case largely built on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony appears to be facing serious questions.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have taken part in two closed hearings described as so sensitive that Levy's parents have not been told precisely what they are about. Her parents, Susan and Robert Levy have been advised of the hearings by the U.S. Attorney, but they are not being told any details about which witness may be implicated by new information. In a telephone interview with ABC News, Susan Levy said, "I'm not going to get my daughter back. I only want them to have the right person in prison."

In an interview with ABC's San Francisco station, KGO-TV, the Levys said most of their information comes from news reports.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Secret Hearings in Case of Chandra Levy Slaying

Secret Hearings in Case of Chandra Levy Slaying

By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON January 25, 2013 (AP)







A judge has been holding secret hearings in the case of the man convicted in the 2001 killing of Chandra Levy, the latest twist in a high-profile murder that went unsolved for years and captivated the public because of the intern's romantic relationship with a California congressman.

The meetings, held sporadically behind closed doors at the courthouse over the last several weeks, raise questions about what comes next in a criminal case that appeared resolved by the 2010 conviction of Ingmar Guandique. The illegal immigrant from El Salvador is now serving a 60-year prison sentence in Levy's death, but the hearings could signal a problem with the prosecution of the case.

Authorities acknowledged they had no DNA evidence or witnesses linking Guandique to the crime, building their prosecution instead around a jailhouse informant who said Guandique had confessed behind bars that he was responsible for Levy's death. They also said the attack on Levy fit a pattern of assaults by Guandique on other female joggers in the same location where she went missing and during the same timeframe.

Guandique, who was already imprisoned for those attacks when he was accused in Levy's death in 2009, professed innocence at his sentencing hearing. His lawyers said police and prosecutors made him a scapegoat for a botched investigation.

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/secret-hearings-case-chandra-levy-slaying-18311786

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. There really should be some kind of ban on jailhouse informants

In nearly every one of these "It turned out he was innocent" cases, there seems to be some systematic abuse of jailhouse informants. Not saying Guandique is innocent here, and he's obviously a serial rapist at the very least, and the 60 years would do the society good, but truly, a jailhouse informant is the lynch pin? I'm pretty sure I would nullify on any jury if the prosecution's main witness was a jailhouse informant. It's ridiculous.

[MADem]

6. This is true....but he was in the right place, right time...AND his attacks were violent in the

extreme. He was a vicious and brutal rapist who would sneak up on women who were jogging with Walkmans, he'd grab 'em and strangle 'em with their earbud wire to compel them to do what he wanted.

It's not impossible that he went too far.

I remember, years ago, reading some court transcripts about this guy's previous attacks--the description of them could only be described as vicious.

But who knows? Poor Chandra's body lay in Rock Creek Park for friken ever--by the time she was found, she was bones, and there was no evidence at all. No DNA, no surveillance video, no fingerprints on items left behind... nothing of that sort. And no one thought to look there because that wasn't her habit, to run in Rock Creek. Her gym membership had expired and the bastards wouldn't let her pay by the day or transfer the membership to another franchise on the west coast where she was headed, so she decided to run outdoors rather than have to pay a whole month for a couple of days.

A shame.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. There's no doubt we're all better off with this sociopath in prison

That said, if there's insufficient evidence to convict him of this particular crime, than that's the situation. And yes, you're right that this is a horror all around.

[MADem]

13. And of course, since it's a series of SECRET hearings, I don't know what they are saying behind

closed doors--would be interesting to be a fly on the wall, I'm betting!

[ucrdem]

14. I don't see this turning out well.

Sounds like the disloyal opposition is cooking up a new Vince Foster scandorama.

[MADem]

15. I don't think so. Condit has been in private life for over a decade. nt

[ucrdem]

16. Hope you're right.

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Demo_Chris]

3. Interesting

[Auntie Bush]

4. I hope they don't drag Gary Condit back into this case...in fact

it's too bad they drag it up at all. It will be so hard on both the Levy and Condit family and nothing can bring her back. Hopefully the type of person that did that has already committed other crimes and is in jail or hopefully dead.

[MADem]

5. Hard to know, since the hearings are secret.

I saw a quick shot of Condit on TV the other day--the years have not been kind.

He used to go to a high end "colorist" in DC to keep his hair just so--back then it was less common for men to get their hair colored "properly" -- they'd just use the Grecian formula or Just For Men in the box, rather than do the "highlights" thing. It was a subject of the occasional titters on the Hill.

He did manage to melt into obscurity--I'm betting he's not happy about this, either.

[Nye Bevan]

8. There was an NY politician (Andrew Stein) who owned several different toupees,

with the hair lengths slightly different on each one. By rotating through his collection of wigs he could present the illusion that his hair was growing, and then switch back to the shortest one to simulate getting a haircut.

Some guys are pretty vain about this stuff.

[bettyellen]

9. and some get individual strands died darker, to lessen the gray, but give realistic effect.

super expensive and stealthy.

[MADem]

11. That's a hoot. Remember James Traficant? He used to run around with a squirrel on his head!

He used to do crazy one-minute speeches in the House--you didn't have to agree with him to enjoy them, they were pure theater--he'd punctuate his points with "Beam Me UP, Scotty--BEAM. ME. UP!!!!"

He's out of jail now, and hanging with the Tea Party.



He still is using a squirrel, though--albeit a slightly smaller one!

[Nye Bevan]

7. Hmmm. If this was a movie, it would turn out that Condit was involved after all.

And that he paid off the "jailhouse informant" to implicate the other dude.

Condit certainly behaved very suspiciously, lying to the police and obstructing their investigation.

[MADem]

12. He was fooling around with Chandra, and the whole atmosphere was pervaded with

the Lewinsky scandal, still. Al Gore had just been robbed, and Dumbya was fresh in office, strutting and pouting and telling everyone how much more upstanding his coke sniffing, naked on top of the bar dancing, ass was.

What really "saved" Condit from the continued glare of media attention was Nahn Wun Wun. The minute those towers were hit, it was "Gary Who?" as the media pack loped off after any and every story of fear, terror, heartbreak, loss, redemption, you-name-it, to pack their column inches.