Parole denied again for John Lennon’s killer

The New York Daily News reports that Mark David Chapman, who shot Lennon to death on December 8, 1980, and was subsequently sentenced to 20 years to life, will remain in prison for at least another two years after his latest meeting with the three-member parole panel.

According to the ruling released by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the board considered factors including Chapman’s “personal efforts to study and educate yourself”, the “network of support and release plans” and “official opposition”.

In a description of its decision, the parole board noted that Chapman has since described the murder as “selfish and evil”.

Chapman, 61, shot John Lennon four times in front of wife Yoko Ono as the pair returned to their NY home from a late night recording session on 8 December, 1980. But in the past, the parole board has argued that releasing him would “undermine respect for the law”.

Chapman will next be eligible for parole in August 2018.

Once such claim has come from Yoko Ono, who has allegedly submitted depositions claiming that she still fears for her own safety and that of her children should Chapman make parole.

Ono’s past letters also expressed concern that Chapman himself could face danger from one of the slain Beatle’s fans seeking revenge.

He is kept in protective custody against his will and works as an administrative clerk. “It’s not a regular crime”, he said at the time.

He once angered Ono when he said he believed Lennon would have forgiven him.

He said he learned how to fix wheelchairs while behind bars.