DETROIT – Sept. 22 could be the day that makes or breaks a Detroit family's nearly decade-long battle to find out who killed Tamara Greene.
Greene was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2003. It was rumored that she danced at a never-proven party at the Detroit mayor's Manoogian Mansion that was thrown by then-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2002.
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Her family is suing the city claiming Kilpatrick and other high-ranking city officials thwarted the investigation into her death.
The family's attorney, Norman Yatooma, said the city has repeatedly withheld records in the case and that evidence related to the case has been intentionally destroyed, specifically e-mails sent between officials on city-owned computers.
A judge has already released court filings saying evidence could have been lost in the case.
According to the court filings, Judge Magistrate Steven Whalen said it would be "a gross understatement to say that the city acted in bad faith and was at fault in causing the destruction of evidence"
Whalen said Kwame Kilpatrick, Christine Beatty, Ruth Carter and Ella Bully-Cummings sent emails while in office that they did not delete. The court said the emails are not on the city's servers, where they should be.
Another federal judge will make the decision on whether to transition the lawsuit to trial or toss it out on Sept. 22.
Attorney David Griem, who has followed the Greene case for years, said he thinks despite Whalen's statements, the case will be thrown out. He also said Yatooma can always appeal.