Biases and prejudices of many would-be jurors in the Chandra Levy murder case became clear under questioning Wednesday as attorneys chose at least 31 people to move on to what will be the final cut.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Gerald I. Fisher said the goal was to procure approximately 40 potential jurors, out of which 12 jurors and four alternates would be selected to determine the fate of 29-year-old Ingmar Guandique, an illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member charged with killing Levy.
The 24-year-old federal intern went missing while jogging in Rock Creek Park one night in May 2001. Her remains were discovered in the park a year later.
Reasons given for dismissals Wednesday were potential jurors’ prior courtroom experience — such as one who was a courtroom interpreter — and biased attitudes toward Hispanics, gangs, tattoos and illegal immigrants.
One statement read from a potential juror’s notes mentioned the opinion that Guandique was guilty and his tattoos proved he was guilty and a member of a gang. Several would-be jurors admitted to having an opinion against illegal immigrants.
“He is negative toward Hispanics and all illegal aliens,” prosecutor Amanda Haines said about one potential juror. “He gave what I would term some rather bizarre responses.”
Another person among those dismissed commented that he believed all gang members should be castrated, Haines said.
One-hundred-twelve D.C. residents were in the juror pool for the case Monday. Thirty-three prospective jurors were dismissed that day after filling out a preliminary questionnaire that asked about scheduling, medical and other hardships and reasons they couldn’t be an impartial juror.
The questionnaire given to potential jurors who moved on contained 55 questions to test the jury pool’s knowledge about the case and opinions on gangs, Hispanics, tattoos and illegal immigrants.
Questions Wednesday focused on whether individuals could trust testimonies from members of the MS-13 gang and their level of knowledge about the group’s activity. There were also several references to former Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif. Levy was from Condit’s district and the two were having sex. Much speculation focused on whether he had been involved in her death.
One potential juror Wednesday said Condit was unfairly targeted by the media because the case was politicized in Washington — a city already so focused on politics. Another potential juror mentioned the former representative, but when asked whether he could consider all evidence presented, the potential juror said an affair does not mean someone is guilty of a crime.
– Anna Waugh
