Man Paroled After Serving 5 Years of Murder Conviction

A former city of Chicago health department employee convicted of running over a cabdriver with his own taxi has been released on parole after serving less than five years of his sentence.

Michael L. Jackson was sentenced to 15 years in prison in late 2006 for the death of Haroon Paryani.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, Jackson was released Friday from Logan Correctional Center.

Jackson was convicted of second-degree murder in Paryani's death. He was acquitted of first-degree murder and aggravated criminal hijacking.

He was accused of running over Paryani on Feb. 4, 2005, during a dispute over an $8 cab fare. Prosecutors and witnesses said Jackson drove the cab over Paryani three times.

During his trial, Jackson claimed self-defense and said significant facts of his case were left out, ABC 7 Chicago reported four years ago.

Jackson was a policy and communications specialist with the Chicago health department's sexually transmitted disease/HIV/AIDS division.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago

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