Michael Jordan's father's killer to get evidence in bid for new trial

Attorneys for Daniel Green have alleged law enforcement corruption played a role in his 1996 murder conviction in James Jordan's death, and they have been seeking evidence in recent years to support that argument.

James Jordan was shot to death in his car along U.S. Highway 74 near Lumberton on July 23, 1993. His body was found a couple of weeks later in a South Carolina swamp.

Green has repeatedly insisted that he didn't kill James Jordan, acknowledging that he only helped dispose of the body and later had some items taken from Jordan and his car. Co-defendant Larry Demery was convicted of a lesser crime in exchange for his testimony implicating Green in the murder.

Special Superior Court Judge Michael Beale ordered prosecutors to turn over the notes from or transcripts of any interviews Demery had with State Bureau of Investigation agents between January 1990 and August 1993, as well as any interviews the SBI had with Hubert Larry Deese after James Jordan's murder through March 1997.

Deese, the son of former Robeson County Sheriff Hubert Stone, was a known drug dealer in the area who worked with Demery and was a friend of the lead investigator into Jordan's murder. Someone also used Jordan's cellphone shortly after the killing to call Deese.

Green's attorneys contend that James Jordan stumbled upon a drug deal and that Demery killed him and then called Deese. The Robseon County Sheriff's Office then covered that up to protect Deese, according to Green's attorneys.

Prosecutors said they have turned over all of the documents they had in the case, but they must now see if the SBI has any evidence that was withheld back in the 1990s by the Robeson County Sheriff's Office.

Beale also ordered them to give him any criminal investigative file for Stone so he could decide if any of it should be handed over to Green's lawyers.

"We're just excited to be back in court," defense attorney Scott Holmes said. "It's been a long time since the court has heard anything on this matter, and we're hoping that we can get before the court on the issues that we've raised in our pleading."

The defense has also challenged blood evidence and witness testimony from Green's trial and has alleged juror misconduct.

Beale said he wanted the files turned over to the defense by Dec. 9, which is the next scheduled court hearing in the case.