Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Cocaine, alcohol found in system of beating victim Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 15:23:03 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD Cocaine, alcohol found in system of beating victim \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT DETROIT DETROIT (AP) - A man beaten to death, allegedly by police swinging flashlights, had alcohol and traces of cocaine in his system when he was killed, it was reported yesterday. Malice Green had traces of cocaine in his blood when he was killed, according to an official who reviewed autopsy reports, the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News said. The newspapers did not name the official. The Free Press also said Mr. Green had a 0.03 percent alcohol level in a urine sample. "It's still no excuse," said Mr. Green's sister, Sherry. "I wouldn't give a damn if he had a gallon of liquor in his system, there's no excuse." Dr. Phil Predmore, a toxicologist for the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office, said yesterday that a urine alcohol test - unlike a blood alcohol test - does not indicate whether a person drank enough to be impaired. A person with alcohol in his urine may have no alcohol in his blood, Dr. Predmore said. Mr. Green, 35, died of head injuries after being bludgeoned Nov. 5 on a street near a suspected crack house. Officers Larry Nevers and Walter Budzyn were charged Monday with murder. Sgt. Freddie Douglas was charged with involuntary manslaughter and willful neglect of duty. Officer Robert Lessnau was charged with assault. "The results of the toxicology report will not make a difference in the prosecution," said Richard Padzieksi, chief of operations for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Defense attorneys for the officers disagreed. "If there was cocaine in Mr. Green's system - and depending on what level and in what mixture with alcohol - it clearly casts new light on his behavior on the night in question," said John Goldpaugh, who represented Officers Nevers, Budzyn and Lessnau at their arraignment. The four officers are free on bail pending a Dec. 14 preliminary hearing. If convicted, Officers Nevers and Budzyn could get life in prison. Sgt. Douglas could get 15 years and Officer Lessnau 10. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM