Gregory Weeks, who presided over the murder trial of Michael Jordan’s father, is advocating for the release of Daniel Andre Green, the man convicted in the case. Retired Judge Weeks has petitioned the North Carolina State Parole Board, citing that a forensic blood expert failed to disclose significant findings during the trial.
According to Weeks, the expert witness did not inform the court that blood tests were negative or inconclusive, information that could have influenced the jury’s verdict.
James Jordan, father of NBA legend Michael Jordan, was fatally shot at age 56 in 1993 while sleeping in his car on the side of a highway in North Carolina. Prosecutors alleged that Green killed James Jordan during a botched robbery, according to Daily Mail.
Green, however, has denied the murder, claiming he only assisted co-defendant Larry Demery in disposing of the body in a South Carolina swamp after Demery committed the crime.
The convict, 49, is serving a life sentence at Southern Correctional Institution in North Carolina. He was denied a new trial in 2019. Green’s attorney, Chris Mumma, filed a motion requesting the judge to reconsider the case so that new testimony from Green’s co-defendant can be heard.
In an affidavit accompanying her motion, attorney Mumma revealed that in a December 2018 interview, co-defendant Demery admitted he felt coached by law enforcement to testify falsely against Green.
Mumma argued that the case against Green heavily relied on Demery’s testimony, suggesting Demery had an incentive to lie to avoid the death penalty.
Mumma further argued that Green’s constitutional rights to a fair trial were violated due to ineffective counsel, who did not properly investigate ballistics evidence or call several alibi witnesses.
Green admits to helping dispose of James Jordan’s body but insists he was not present when he was shot.
His first-degree murder conviction has been upheld by two state courts. Demery, who testified against Green, is also serving a life sentence for the murder.
Prosecutors assert that Green killed James Jordan as part of a series of crimes that included other armed robberies.
They claim James Jordan was shot while sleeping in his parked Lexus along a highway, having been targeted for robbery.
The violent death stunned fans of James Jordan’s son, NBA star Michael Jordan, who had led the Chicago Bulls to the first three of his six NBA championships at the time.
