Attorneys for the defense on Monday presented opening statements in the trial of Ingmar Guandique, the 29-year-old man who stands accused in the death of federal intern Chandra Levy.

Levy's mother, Susan, sat in the second row of a third-floor courtroom on Monday morning, as prosecutor Amanda Haines started to present the government's case.

Haines began by painting a picture of Levy jogging in Rock Creek Park, where her remains were discovered about a year after she was reported missing.

"She's running into a dream, into a nightmare, from which she'll never recover," Haines told the jury.

Susan Levy sat frowning as Haines continued to present the government's case. Earlier, she had craned her neck to see Guandique, who was sitting on the other side of the packed courtroom.

Haines didn't sugarcoat the government's case, laying out its flaws to the jury. She admitted to police mistakes, as well as a lack of both DNA evidence and witnesses.

"The harsh truth is, Ms. Levy died alone," she said.

Haines also made note of Gary Condit, whose connection to Levy surfaced during the investigation, and said the former U.S. congressman had nothing to do with Levy's death. She said the focus on Condit and Levy's link was among the miscues by authorities, who initially focused on Condit during the early stages of the investigation.

"They were lured by the juicy secret that was Gary Condit and Chandra Levy," Haines said.

Haines was followed by defense attorney Maria Hawilo, who told the jury that police "failed" at the investigation from the get-go. She called Guandique an "easy scapegoat" for the government and said he had "nothing to do" with Levy's death.

"Ingmar Guandique is not guilty and nothing that happens during this trial will prove that he is," Hawilo said.

Hawilo was critical of the government's case, saying it lacked the details necessary for a conviction. She characterized it as assumptions based on little evidence, other than Guandique's previous criminal history and the statements of jailhouse informants.

"You'll see the government has no case," she said.