Officers can review Greene homicide file, judge rules
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that eight former and current Detroit police officers can review the homicide file of slain exotic dancer Tamara Greene.
Those allowed to view the file under order of Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen are Mike Carlisle, Odell Godbold, Alvin Bowman, Wedad Elhage, Marian Stevenson, Billy Jackson, Danny Marshall and Mike Russell.
Greene’s family alleges in a federal lawsuit that Detroit police deliberately botched the investigation into her slaying so her killers wouldn’t be held accountable for her death. Police officials have denied the charge, saying the case is still under investigation.
Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, police officials and lawyers for the mayor and city deny allegations that they have interfered with the homicide 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 to gain their insight and see whether portions were missing.
Many of the officers listed in Wednesday’s order have previously spoken out about the case.
Bowman claimed in a lawsuit that he was transferred out of the homicide section for looking into the case. Godbold filed a lawsuit claiming he was demoted for similar reasons.
Carlisle has said that he believes the killer to be Darrett King, 37, known as Little D, who is in prison on an unrelated charge for up to 25 years.
Police say they believe King 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, has said he argued with Greene, but denied hitting her or giving her black eyes.
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.
