Judge grants retrial in Chandra Levy murder case; defense claimed information was withheld
The man convicted of killing federal intern Chandra Levy has won a retrial after his lawyers argued prosecutors withheld information in the case.
Judge Gerald Fisher granted a new trial on Thursday to Ingmar Guandique, who was convicted in 2010 for the 2001 slaying, the Washington Post reports.
Guandique’s lawyers had argued the government failed to disclose that the convicted drug dealer who claimed Guandique confessed to the crime had previously offered to testify in other cases in exchange for favorable treatment. At trial, the drug dealer testified he had never cooperated in other cases.
Guandique’s alleged confession to the drug dealer occurred when he was in prison for attacking two other women in the park where Levy’s body was found.
Prosecutors have said they were unaware of any other cooperation offers by the drug dealer. Prosecutors dropped their opposition to the retrial bid, however, saying the “passage of time and the unique circumstances of this case” made opposition to the defense motion difficult. Prosecutors maintain the verdict was correct.
Before charging Guandique, police investigated then cleared a California congressman who had been having an affair with Levy.
