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Lennon Killer Mark David Chapman Denied Parole

By Jason Beahm on September 08, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

"Guilt for being rich, and guilt thinking that perhaps love and peace isn't enough and you have to go and get shot or something." - John Lennon

The man who shot and killed John Lennon has been denied parole for the sixth time. The New York State Division of Parole, by way of a three member panel, rejected the parole application of Mark David Chapman. The hearing was conducted with Chapman via a live video conference. Chapman was also rejected for parole in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He will be elgibile to apply again in 2012.

Chapman is held at the maximum security Attica Correctional Facility, where he has served 29 years of his sentence. According to officials with the New York Department of Correctional Services, Chapman does not share his prison cell with another inmate and spends the majority of his time outside working on housekeeping as well as in the library.

Yoko Ono, John Lennon's widow, had previously submitted a letter to the parole board arguing against paroling Chapman. She recently submitted a new letter stating that her position has not changed. Ono believes that if Mark David Chapman is released it will cause chaos and confusion and that she and her sons will feel unsafe, NBC reports.

"Given that he committed a high profile crime and he killed one of the most famous and most beloved figures literally in the world, it's highly unlikely three parole commissioners would vote to grant him release," said Robert Gangi, a representative of a prisoners' rights group in July.

Parole is the opportunity for early release from a custodian sentence, typically granted by a parole board. After a convict has served a certain amount of time, they may become elgibile to apply for parole. The parole board takes a number of factors into consideration before deciding whether to grant early release. Some of the factors include behavior in prison, danger to re-offend, severity of the crime or crimes, and the level of rehabilitation.

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