Worthy rips probe of Greene slaying: investigation of dancer’s case
Detroit — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says the Detroit police investigation into the murder of exotic dancer Tamara “Strawberry” Greene was “woefully inadequate.”
Worthy made the comment in a letter to Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen, who has scheduled a hearing today on whether certain sealed records in the case should be made public.
“It is fair to say that the initial investigation into her murder was woefully inadequate,” Worthy said in a letter filed Monday. “This is not the time, nor the proper forum to discuss the shortcomings of the work of any police agency or the possible reasons for the inadequate investigation.”
A Detroit police spokesman declined comment.
Greene, a stripper linked to a rumored party at the mayor’s Manoogian Mansion in the fall of 2002, was shot to death in Detroit on April 30, 2003.
Her family is suing ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and top city and police officials, alleging they obstructed her murder probe for political reasons. The defendants deny the allegations.
In the letter, Worthy urged Rosen not to hamper the investigation by unsealing sensitive records. Rosen has cited the need to protect the homicide investigation, as well as privacy concerns.
The Detroit News and other media organizations are arguing for more openness in keeping with longstanding principles that court records and proceedings are presumed to be public absent a compelling reason.
“My concern is that at a time when this investigation is finally proceeding as it should have years ago, that this progress could be hampered by the improper disclosure of information crucial to the case,” said Worthy, whose office is investigating as part of a multi-jurisdictional task force that includes Detroit police and the FBI.
Norman Yatooma, the Birmingham attorney representing Greene’s family, said the murder investigation was inadequate because it was “deliberately and unlawfully terminated.” It’s alleged the Greene murder file was moved to the police “cold case” unit much sooner than normal.
