Sealed hearings in Levy murder case to be opened

WASHINGTON -- The public will soon learn more about the subject of sealed hearings in the Chandra Levy murder case.

Levy, who grew up in Modesto, was a Washington intern whose 2001 slaying attracted attention because of her romantic relationship with then-Congressman Gary Condit of Ceres.

Ingmar Guandique, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was convicted of her murder in 2010. But a judge has been holding sealed post-conviction hearings in recent weeks that could signal a problem with the prosecution.

After a 2½-hour sealed proceeding Thursday, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher said redacted, partial transcripts of hearings in December and January will be made available to the public and the media in about a week.

A prosecutor said defense lawyers made assertions in those proceedings that the government does not agree with.