Lawyers argue case of Ellen Greenberg during hearing in Philadelphia
In a hearing Wednesday morning inside a courtroom in Philadelphia City Hall, lawyers squared before a judge, arguing 13-year-old details surrounding the death of Manayunk school teacher Ellen Greenberg.
Attorneys for Greenberg's parents, Dr. Joshua and Sandee Greenberg, allege a deep-seated conspiracy, claiming the city's police department and medical examiner's office conspired to "hide" a homicide to effectively cover up a botched investigation into their daughter's death.
"I'm glad the public is getting an opportunity to observe the way things work in this city ... the things that have gone down, the mistakes that were made, the lies that have been told," said Sandee Greenberg.
Greenberg's body was found in the kitchen of her apartment during a blizzard in late January 2011.
With some 20 stab wounds, her death was first determined to be a suicide by first responders. Then, following an autopsy, it was ruled a homicide. But investigators, following a meeting, would change their minds again and list her death as "suicide."
It's alleged Greenberg's fiancé returned to the apartment and had to break down the door, finding her lifeless body.
Attorneys say the police crime scene unit's attempts to investigate the crime scene were compromised because the apartment had been cleaned up. Wednesday marked the first time Ellen's parents say they heard details of their daughter's case aired inside a courtroom.
"I couldn't believe it was me sitting in a courtroom and hearing details of my daughter's brutal murder," said Sandee Greenberg.
"What the Greenbergs are contending is that their daughter was killed, it's a murder that was hidden after the fact with false information," said attorney Joe Podraza.
"We have the city against us. Trying everything in their toolbox to try and make us quit," said Sandee Greenberg. "And that emboldens me."
Attorneys for the city of Philadelphia, a chief medical examiner and detectives on the case told the court there is no evidence of a conspiracy and officials named in the lawsuit alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress on the Greenbergs are protected by immunity.
An attorney for the city's law department declined to comment.
Our email seeking comment from the city did not receive a response.
The Greenbergs are simultaneously asking the state Supreme Court to allow them standing to have their daughter's death certificate amended from suicide to undetermined.
Several weeks ago, the Chester County District Attorney's Office, which was handed the case due to conflicts at the Philadelphia DA and Attorney General's offices, said it could not determine if a crime had been committed after further investigation.
As for Wednesday's hearing, a decision is expected by the end of January.
