Worthy wants Greene evidence to stay sealed

DETROIT (AP) — The Wayne County prosecutor has urged a federal judge to restrict public access to the civil litigation over the unsolved murder of a Detroit stripper.

The news media’s interest must be trumped by the ongoing investigation into Tamara Greene’s death, Kym Worthy said in an April 29 letter to U.S. Chief District Judge Gerald Rosen.

Greene’s family is suing high-ranking police officials and former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, claiming they stifled the homicide investigation in 2003 — charges those accused have denied.

Rosen is hearing arguments Wednesday on the media’s request to unseal documents in the civil lawsuit and stop closing court hearings. Rosen has said he’s taken those steps because he doesn’t want to harm any investigation.

Worthy said the restrictions should stick.

Seven years after Greene’s fatal shooting, any progress in the investigation "could be hampered by the improper disclosure of information crucial to the case," she said.

Worthy said the initial probe into Greene’s death was "woefully inadequate."

The sealed documents include the deposition of Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, who investigated rumors of a 2002 party hosted by Kilpatrick and possibly attended by Greene. Cox has called it an "urban legend."

Rosen has ordered that Kilpatrick’s wife and father also sit for depositions.