Former California congressman Gary Condit on Monday took the stand in the trial of a man accused of killing Chandra Levy, a Washington, D.C., intern who disappeared nine years ago and with whom Condit had a romantic affair, the Washington Post reported.
Condit’s relationship with Levy, then 24, made headlines at the time of her disappearance and destroyed his political career. Law enforcement have since declared Condit’s innocence and have said they erred by making him the initial, and sole, focus of their investigation.
The man on trial for Levy’s murder is Ingmar Guandique, who is accused of attacking Levy while she was jogging alone in Rock Creek Park in May of 2001.
He became a suspect many years later, while he was in prison on unrelated charges. He allegedly told other inmates that he had attacked two female joggers in that park around the time of Levy’s murder.
Prosecutors have no DNA evidence and no eyewitnesses that can place Guandique in the park at the time of the attack. Guandique’s legal team is expected to argue that police made many mistakes in the investigation into Levy’s death, throwing much of the evidence into question.
And, in spite of law enforcement’s declarations about Condit’s innocence, defense lawyers want to keep attention focused on his relationship with Levy, in an attempt to cast doubt over Guandique’s involvement.