One of the two men who murdered Michael Jordan's father James in 1993 while he slept in his car is granted parole and will walk free in 2023

One of the two men convicted in the 1993 murder of Michael Jordan's father will be released from prison after serving 27 years of a life sentence, officials announced on Tuesday. 
Larry M. Demery, 45, is due to walk free on August 6, 2023, after he was granted parole by the North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission this week, ABC 11 reported.
Demery was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and robbery charges in the fatal shooting of James Jordan Sr. 
Jordan Sr was shot dead in July 1993 as he slept in his parked Lexus on the side of Highway 74 in Robeson County, North Carolina.  
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission said Demery had been approved for a Mutual Agreement Parole Program (MAPP), a scholastic and vocational program for freed inmates. 
The violent death shocked fans of James Jordan's world-famous son, Michael (pictured with his dad)  who at that point had led the Chicago Bulls to the first three of his six NBA titles
The violent death shocked fans of James Jordan's world-famous son, Michael (pictured with his dad)  who at that point had led the Chicago Bulls to the first three of his six NBA titles 
The letter notes that while the state of North Carolina does not grant parole to those serving life sentences for murder, Demery's crimes were committed before October 1, 1994 - when the law went into effect. 
Demery, who was 17 at the time, and childhood classmate Daniel Green were both accused of killing Jordan, stealing his vehicle, and dumping his body over a bridge in South Carolina, after targeting him for robbery. 

Jordan's remains were recovered weeks later on August 3, in a swampy area near McColl, South Carolina. 
During the murder trial, the men accused each other of pulling the trigger, but both were ultimately convicted of murder.
Green however, remains jailed despite his repeated attempts for a new trial. His most recent effort was rejected by a judge last year, The News & Observer reported. 
Larry Demery, left, and Daniel Green, were convicted of murdering James Jordan, father of NBA star Michael Jordan, in 1996. Green remains behind bars despite repeated requests for a new trial
Larry Demery, left, and Daniel Green, were convicted of murdering James Jordan, father of NBA star Michael Jordan, in 1996. Green remains behind bars despite repeated requests for a new trial 
Michael Jordan's father, James Jordan Sr (pictured) was shot dead in July 1993, while sleeping in his car on a North Carolina highway
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan's father, James Jordan Sr (left) was shot dead in July 1993, while sleeping in his car on a North Carolina highway 
His conviction for first-degree murder has previously been upheld by two state courts. 
Lawyers for Green had claimed that he hadn't been present when Jordan was shot in the chest and had only helped dispose of the body. 
Prosecutors have maintained that Green killed Jordan as part of a series of crimes that included other armed robberies.  
An affidavit accompanying a motion for a new trial last year stated that Demery allegedly told Green's attorney Christine Mumma during a December 2018 interview that 'that he felt coached by law enforcement to testify falsely against Mr Green.' 
Mumma said the case against Green was dependent on testimony by Demery, arguing he had an incentive to lie in hopes of avoiding the death penalty.
The violent death shocked fans of James Jordan's world-famous son, Michael, who at that point had led the Chicago Bulls to the first three of his six NBA titles. Jordan now owns the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
The NBA legend opened up on his father's death in sports documentary 'The Last Dance', released earlier this year. 
Jordan recalled the advice his father had given him when dealing with times of hardship. 
'One of the things he always taught me was you have to take a negative and turn it into a positive,' Jordan said. 
'So I started looking to the other side of it, and that helped me get through it.' 
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