Judge: 8 cops can review Tamara Greene files
A federal judge today granted permission for eight former and current Detroit police officers to review the homicide file of slain exotic dancer Tamara Greene.
Those allowed to view the file under order by Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen are Mike Carlisle, Odell Godbold, Alvin Bowman, Wedad El-hage, Marian Stevenson, Billy Jackson, Danny Marshall and Mike Russell.
Greene’s family alleges in a federal lawsuit that Detroit police deliberately botched the investigation so her killers wouldn’t be held accountable for her death. Police officials have denied the charge, saying the case still is under investigation.
Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, police officials and lawyers for the mayor and city deny allegations they have interfered with the homicide investigation. The case remains unsolved.
Detroit police had argued against releasing Greene’s homicide file to attorneys representing her family during an ongoing investigation.
Last year, Rosen allowed Birmingham attorney Norman Yatooma, who represents Greene’s family, to review the file along with attorney Robert Zawideh, but they were barred from discussing it.
Yatooma had requested that the officers also be allowed to review the file.
Many of the officers listed in today’s order have previously spoken out about the case. Bowman said in a lawsuit that he was transferred out of the homicide section for looking into the case.
Carlisle has said that he believes the killer to be Darrett King, 37, known as Little D, who is locked away in prison on an unrelated charge for up to 25 years. King is the man police say they believe punched Greene in both eyes during a Southfield bachelor party two weeks before her death. He then tussled with her boyfriend, Eric (Big Nose E) Mitchell.
King, who has denied any responsibility, previously said he argued with Greene, but did not hit her. He shoved her, he admitted, but only because “she pushed me first.”
Mitchell was wounded when Greene, nicknamed Strawberry, was gunned down April 30, 2003, at 3:45 a.m. while sitting in her parked Buick Skylark at Roselawn and West Outer Drive.
Greene’s slaying has drawn attention because of a never-proven party some say Kilpatrick held at the Manoogian Mansion, then the city’s mayoral residence. Some say Greene danced at the fall 2002 party and was later assaulted by Kilpatrick’s wife.
Others say the party never happened.
