This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/us/charges-dropped-against-man-accused-of-killing-chandra-levy.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Charges Dropped Against Man Accused of Killing Chandra Levy | Charges Dropped Against Man Accused of Killing Chandra Levy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Citing “unforeseen developments” that they would not describe, prosecutors said Thursday that they were dropping charges against the man they had long accused of killing a young intern in a Washington park more than 15 years ago. The surprise decision means that the death of the intern, Chandra Levy, remains one of the nation’s most notorious unsolved crimes. | Citing “unforeseen developments” that they would not describe, prosecutors said Thursday that they were dropping charges against the man they had long accused of killing a young intern in a Washington park more than 15 years ago. The surprise decision means that the death of the intern, Chandra Levy, remains one of the nation’s most notorious unsolved crimes. |
| An undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, Ingmar Guandique, was convicted in 2010 of killing Ms. Levy in Rock Creek Park, and sentenced to 60 years in prison. But he was granted a new trial last year after prosecutors acknowledged that they had withheld evidence casting doubt on the credibility of their main witness. | An undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, Ingmar Guandique, was convicted in 2010 of killing Ms. Levy in Rock Creek Park, and sentenced to 60 years in prison. But he was granted a new trial last year after prosecutors acknowledged that they had withheld evidence casting doubt on the credibility of their main witness. |
| On Thursday, the United States attorney’s office in Washington issued a brief statement that said in part: “Today, in the interests of justice and based on recent unforeseen developments that were investigated over the past week, the office moved to dismiss the case charging Ingmar Guandique with the May 2001 murder of Chandra Levy. The office has concluded that it can no longer prove the murder case against Mr. Guandique beyond a reasonable doubt.” | |
| A spokesman for the office, William Miller, said he could not elaborate. | A spokesman for the office, William Miller, said he could not elaborate. |
| “I don’t have any additional information to provide at this time,” he said. “We’re not planning on any additional statements outside of court.” | “I don’t have any additional information to provide at this time,” he said. “We’re not planning on any additional statements outside of court.” |
| Chief Judge Robert E. Morin approved the dismissal of the charges and Mr. Guandique, 36, will be handed over to immigration authorities for deportation. | Chief Judge Robert E. Morin approved the dismissal of the charges and Mr. Guandique, 36, will be handed over to immigration authorities for deportation. |
| Ms. Levy, 24, an intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, went missing on May 1, 2001, and extensive searches failed to locate her. More than a year later, a man walking his dog found her remains in the park, but decomposition and exposure to the elements left investigators with little usable evidence. | Ms. Levy, 24, an intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, went missing on May 1, 2001, and extensive searches failed to locate her. More than a year later, a man walking his dog found her remains in the park, but decomposition and exposure to the elements left investigators with little usable evidence. |
| Soon after her disappearance, Ms. Levy’s family members revealed her relationship with Representative Gary Condit, a married Democrat from California, and suspicion turned to him, generating a news media frenzy. Mr. Condit was defeated for re-election the next year, but the authorities said he had been cleared of any involvement in the murder. | Soon after her disappearance, Ms. Levy’s family members revealed her relationship with Representative Gary Condit, a married Democrat from California, and suspicion turned to him, generating a news media frenzy. Mr. Condit was defeated for re-election the next year, but the authorities said he had been cleared of any involvement in the murder. |
| Mr. Guandique’s lawyers, however, had indicated before charges were dropped that they might have pressed the theory that Mr. Condit was the real killer. The lawyers had said in court that they had been seeking testimony about Mr. Condit’s sexual habits from other women with whom he had had relationships. | Mr. Guandique’s lawyers, however, had indicated before charges were dropped that they might have pressed the theory that Mr. Condit was the real killer. The lawyers had said in court that they had been seeking testimony about Mr. Condit’s sexual habits from other women with whom he had had relationships. |
| Bertram Fields, a lawyer for Mr. Condit, 68, could not immediately be reached for comment; neither could lawyers for Mr. Guandique. | Bertram Fields, a lawyer for Mr. Condit, 68, could not immediately be reached for comment; neither could lawyers for Mr. Guandique. |
| Even before Ms. Levy’s body was found, Mr. Guandique, who had pleaded guilty to assaulting two other women in Rock Creek Park, was considered a suspect in the case, but prosecutors did not charge him until 2009. The case relied heavily on the testimony of a fellow prison inmate, Armando Morales, who said that Mr. Guandique had admitted killing Ms. Levy. | Even before Ms. Levy’s body was found, Mr. Guandique, who had pleaded guilty to assaulting two other women in Rock Creek Park, was considered a suspect in the case, but prosecutors did not charge him until 2009. The case relied heavily on the testimony of a fellow prison inmate, Armando Morales, who said that Mr. Guandique had admitted killing Ms. Levy. |
| Mr. Morales stressed that he had never before “snitched” to the authorities. But prosecutors later admitted that they knew of other times Mr. Morales had helped the authorities, and had failed to disclose that to the defense. | Mr. Morales stressed that he had never before “snitched” to the authorities. But prosecutors later admitted that they knew of other times Mr. Morales had helped the authorities, and had failed to disclose that to the defense. |