Chandra Levy Trial Begins

Chandra Levy’s suspected murderer finally goes on trial today, more than nine years after the Washington intern disappeared—but most Americans probably don’t even know his name. Ingmar Guandique, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was convicted in 2001 of assaulting two other women in the same area Levy's body was found, is standing trial—but the name most people associate with Levy’s case is Gary Condit, the former California congressman whose affair with Levy led to the unraveling of his political career.

Condit expects to be called as a witness during the trial, his spokesperson tells the AP. His presence at the trial will likely dredge up memories of what many remember as a botched investigation, with the frenzy surrounding Condit as a suspect overshadowing efforts to find the real killer. Once Guandique was identified, police continued to misstep, and were never able to get an official confession or DNA evidence. Defense attorneys could use Condit, says one expert: “If it's feasible to suggest that this guy may have been involved, you put it out there" to create reasonable doubt. For more background on the case, click here.
(More Chandra Levy stories.)