Mark David Chapman, 63, is scheduled to face a New York parole board hearing in August – 38 years after he gunned down the Beatles legend
The man who murdered John Lennon is about to come up for parole for a 10th time.
Mark David Chapman is scheduled to face a New York parole board hearing in August – 38 years after he gunned down the Beatles legend.
The 63-year-old murderer has been denied parole on nine other occasions since he first became eligible in 2000.
In recent months, the state has paroled a number of police and child murderers who have long been denied release.
In Chapman’s last parole hearing in 2016, the board opposed his release due to the ‘premeditated and celebrity-seeking nature of the crime’.
At the time, the board did take note of Chapman’s rehabilitative efforts and accepted the killer’s acknowledgment that his crime was ‘premeditated, selfish and evil’.
Chapman, who is believed to suffer from mental illness, is an inmate at the Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in Alden, New York.
He has been denied parole at least every two years from 2000-2016.
Lennon, who would be 77 if he were still alive today, was gunned down by Chapman on December 8, 1980 at his apartment building near Central Park. He is pictured above with Yoko Ono in 1969
Chapman has been denied parole on nine other occasions since he first became eligible back in 2000
Chapman received a sentence of 20 years to life for the murder of the legendary singer and composer.
Lennon, who would be 77 if he were still alive today, was gunned down by Chapman on December 8, 1980 at his apartment building near Central Park.
At his last parole hearing, Chapman told the board that he still gets letters from Beatles fans about the pain he caused.
He has previously said he targeted the singer because of his fame and because he thought he was a phony for living a life of luxury.
‘At that time, I wasn’t thinking about anybody else, just me,’ Chapman said.
‘But now, you know, obviously through people’s letters and through things I hear a lot of people were affected here. I am sorry for causing that type of pain. I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory.’
At his last parole hearing, Chapman told the board that he still gets letters from Beatles fans about the pain he caused. Pictured is the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park
Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, who regularly tweets inspirational messages, tweeted as recently as last week: ‘It’s hard to forgive, but it is better to forgive, so you won’t be carrying bad vibes yourself’. She has always fiercely opposed Chapman’s potential release
Chapman went on to say that he has rediscovered religion in his decades behind bars.
Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono has always fiercely opposed Chapman’s potential release and has written a letter to the parole board each time requesting he be kept in prison.
The Japanese artist has previously argued that Chapman’s release would endanger her and Lennon’s two sons. She has also said that Chapman would be at risk of retribution attacks from Beatles fans.
Yoko, who regularly tweets inspirational messages, tweeted as recently as last week: ‘It’s hard to forgive, but it is better to forgive, so you won’t be carrying bad vibes yourself’.
Chapman is believed to be kept in protective custody at the prison.
He has conjugal visits with his wife, Gloria Chapman, who he married 18 months before committing the murder.