Murder charges against Chandra Levy suspect dropped; no retrial

all charges against Guandique, saying they had received evidence recently that would make it impossible for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

It’s not entirely clear what’s in the recordings. Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, declined to say whether the recordings prompted prosecutors to seek dismissal of the case.

Edward Brady, an attorney for Proller, said his client became involved in the case by sheer coincidence and “she conveyed that information to all of the appropriate people — the prosecutors, and defense attorneys and Ms. Levy. She did this because she believed then, and believes now, that it was the right thing to do.”

Susan Levy, Chandra Levy’s mother, said in an interview Friday at her Modesto, California, home that she had indeed been in contact with someone, then called the prosecutors to alert them.

Levy described feeling despair over her daughter’s unsolved murder and, at the same time, relief that she won’t have to rehash the case in court in October, when Guandique’s retrial had been scheduled.

“It’s weird, all of a sudden it’s no longer there and he’s released,” Levy said.

David Benowitz, a criminal defense attorney in Washington, said prosecutors have clear obligations to inform defense attorneys of any potential issues when they use jailhouse informants.

“Jailhouse snitch testimony is inherently unreliable,” he said.