Tamara Greene lawyer can’t view texts

A lawyer for the family of slain stripper Tamara Greene won’t get to see 13 text messages that initially were believed to offer insight into her 2003 killing, a federal judge ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen ruled that the messages do not meet the standard to be viewed by attorney Norman Yatooma, meaning the judge most likely did not find them relevant to Yatooma’s lawsuit against the City of Detroit, ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his top aide Christine Beatty, police officials and others filed on behalf of Greene’s teenage son and other family members.

Freep.com first reported last month that federal magistrates reviewing messages singled out the 13 text messages from hundreds that were exchanged on city pagers the day Greene was slain in April 2003.

Greene, who went by the stage name Strawberry, was rumored to have danced at a party at the Manoogian Mansion, the mayoral residence, in fall 2002, but state investigators say the party never happened.

Yatooma alleges in the suit that city officials derailed investigations into Greene’s death. Kilpatrick, police officials and lawyers for the mayor and city deny the allegations.

The magistrates are still reviewing a larger batch of city text messages, sent over a longer time period, to determine whether they are relevant to the lawsuit.

“I’m a young man; I have plenty of time,” said Yatooma, who then made reference to Compuware Chief Executive Officer Peter Karmanos’ decision to hire Kilpatrick: “Alternatively, if the case doesn’t work out, I understand that Karmanos is hiring.”