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Chandra Levy's murder trial reveals things she would have preferred remain secret

November 10, 2010 - 05:00 AM
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The program from Chandra Levy's memorial service (Photo: Associated Press)

In life, Chandra Levy kept secrets.

In death, her underwear is part of the public record. The nature of her relationship with a U.S. congressman is open for discussion. A picture of her skull is shown on a big screen.

After weeks of testimony, a 16-member juror panel has heard details about the Levy's workout routine, got a look into her apartment and Internet search history, and watched as her clothes were pulled from plastic evidence bags.

Even Levy's skeletal remains, which were discovered by a cabinetmaker in an isolated patch of Rock Creek Park about a year after she went missing, have been exposed. Images of the bones have been shown in the crowded courtroom at D.C. Superior Court and witnesses have testified about their deteriorating condition.

"There was evidence on the skeleton to identify that animals had been feeding or chewing on the bones," said David Hunt, a forensic anthropologist.

By all accounts, Levy would have been uncomfortable with all of her personal business entering the public conversation. Her father, Robert Levy, told the court that his only daughter was cafeful and safe, but also secretive.

"She's very shy, very private," Chandra Levy's mother, Susan Levy, told the Washington Post in an online video. "She wouldn't like everyone in her room and knowing about her life. Very private."

It was Robert Levy who offered some of the most cringe-worthy moments of the Levy trial, which has entered its third week of witness testimony. He told the court about her rhinoplasty procedure, said she colored her hair, and admitted to peeking at her cell phone bill.

For now, the secrets of Levy's suspected relationship with Gary Condit, however, will remain just that. Condit, the former California congressman whose political career nosedived amid fallout from the Levy scandal, defiantly refused to answer questions about whether he had an intimate relationship with the 24-year-old intern.

"I do think that we're all entitled to some level of privacy," said Condit, whose daughter sat in the courtroom during his testimony.

It's unclear how long details about the intern and the congressman will remain a mystery. Although he repeatedly dodged questions in court, Condit reportedly has a book in the works.

"I just think that I have the right to set some boundaries," he said.

Ingmar Guandique, a 29-year-old Salvadoran immigrant, stands charged in connection with Levy's death. The intimate details of his life haven't been kept secret either. Guandique's former girlfriend, Iris Portillo, has told the court that he once hit her and a Miami woman shared details of their correspondence when he was locked in a federal prison.

Guandique, who hasn't reacted much during the trial, appeared to slump down in his chair when his recorded call with Maria Mendez was played in the courtroom.

Guandique wrote a letter to Mendez that made a reference to a "dead girl," and in the call, Mendez says she's scared, according to a translated transcript of the call. Guandique tells Mendez that he loves her and believed they have a connection.

"You don't even know me, and I'm afraid of you," Mendez says, according to the transcript. "What a thing."

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