The jurors who will decide the fate Ingmar Guandique, accused of killing federal intern Chandra Levy in 2001, were selected Friday.
Jury selection began Monday with a pool of 114 potential jurors. Four men and 12 women were chosen to sit on the jury, from a semifinal panel chosen Thursday. Nine of the jurors are white, six of the jurors are black and one is Asian.
Defense attorney Santha Sonenberg said in court Friday that she received notice that one prospective juror posted a message on Twitter after Thursday’s jury selection that said, “Guilty. Guilty. I say now. I will not be swayed. Practicing for jury duty.” It’s not clear whether the juror was dismissed because of the message, but he ultimately was not chosen.
Prosecutors allege that Guandique raped and attacked Levy, 24, while she was jogging in Rock Creek Park in May 2001. Her remains were found in the park a year later. Levy’s disappearance made national headlines until the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, largely because of her affair with then-Rep. Gary A. Condit (D-Calif.).
The trial is expected to take four to five weeks.
