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New York State Dept. of Corrections
Mark David Chapman is seen in this handout photo taken May 15, 2012, from the New York State Department of Corrections and released to Reuters August 23, 2012.
John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, was denied release from prison in his seventh appearance before a parole board, New York corrections officials said Thursday.
Chapman, 57, was denied parole by a three-member panel after a hearing Wednesday, the state Department of Corrections said.
Chapman shot Lennon in December 1980 outside the Manhattan apartment building where the former Beatle lived. He was sentenced in 1981 to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. The musician, singer and songwriter was 40.
Chapman was transferred in May from the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York to the nearby Wende Correctional Facility. Both are maximum security. The prison system doesn't disclose why inmates are transferred.
In its denial, the panel called Lennon's killing a "callous disregard for the sanctity of human life." It told Chapman in a written statement:
"The panel notes your prison record of good conduct, program achievements, educational accomplishments, positive presentation remorse, risk and needs assessment, letters of support, significant opposition to your release and all other statutory factors were considered.”
“However, parole shall not be granted for good conduct and program completions alone. Therefore, despite your positive efforts while incarcerated, your release at this time would greatly undermine respect for the law and tend to trivialize the tragic loss of life which you caused as a result of this heinous, unprovoked, violent, cold and calculated crime.”
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A hearing transcript will be released in a few days, the Corrections department told NBC News. Chapman can try again for parole in August, 2014, the board said.
At his 2010 hearing, Chapman recalled that he had considered shooting Johnny Carson or Elizabeth Taylor instead, and said again that he chose Lennon because the ex-Beatle was more accessible, that his century-old Upper West Side apartment building by Central Park "wasn't quite as cloistered." Chapman fired five shots outside the Dakota apartment house on Dec. 8, 1980, hitting Lennon four times in front of his wife, Yoko Ono, and others.
The former security guard from Hawaii said that his motivation was instant notoriety but that he later realized he made a horrible decision for selfish reasons.
"I felt that by killing John Lennon I would become somebody and instead of that I became a murderer and murderers are not somebodies," Chapman told the board two years ago.
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Ono, 79, had said two years ago that she was trying to be "practical" in asking that her husband's killer remain behind bars. She said Chapman might be a danger to her, other family members and perhaps even himself.
In a 1992 interview at Attica, Chapman told Barbara Walters that it was dark when he shot Lennon in the back with a .38-caliber revolver after he exited a limousine, headed up the walkway to his apartment building and looked at Chapman. "I heard this voice — not an audible voice, an inaudible voice — saying over and over, 'Do it, do it, do it,'" Chapman said. He explained, "I thought that by killing him I would acquire his fame."
He has been in protective custody with a good disciplinary record, according to corrections officials.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Watch TODAY's morning news coverage from the day the legendary musician was assassinated outside his New York City apartment building.
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Leave a Comment:
Oh please, enough is enough. This guy has been in solitary since day 1 and would be knocked off if any other inmate (many of whom are Lennon fans) ever got a hold of him. Imagine (no pun intended) if he were walking down a public street?
i mean i could be wrong but do me a favor and visit attica state prison in new york and conduct a survey of how many john lennon fans there are.
LOL, hey Bubba how many Lennon fans in your cell block?? Who the F is Lennon?? Was he a dog of 2Pac or my man Dr. Dre?? They would shank him for a Cig, but not for Lennon. Beatles fans need to put the weed down as time has taken over.
Screw it, let him out. He'll be dead in a day.
Yes, zero sympathy for that m-f...
@Seven2Seven - You sound like a bigot to me. It seems that you are insinuating the immates up in Attica that share the same cell block with this POS are all black. BTW I'm sure that most of them up there know who Lennon was.
Chapman should just give it up his hopes and come to the realization that he is never getting out. Let him rot up there.
I hope this sorry POS never sees freedom. And it does matter who you kill! His motive was fame. Just shooting an innocent passerby wasn't going to get him that reward. John had so much more to offer the world and Chapman has and had nothing. Let him rot!
I don't see what the problem is - as soon as the person you killed comes back to life you should be able to get out of jail.
That seems fair.
Big tough banger 7 to 7 here on newsvine, lmfao!!! Poser troll.
I saw a documentary about Lennon which focused on the time during the Nixon administration. Nixon did his best to have him deported, but his attorney kept filing appeal after appeal and he was ultimately given a "green card". Nixon didn't want people thinking about peace and the possibility of getting along with each other when the Vietnam War was so lucrative. It then showed how some mentally unstable people (David Chapman in this case, but the "shoe bomber", Lee Oswald, etc.) are sometimes coerced into "offing" politically irritating people, and no one would suspect our government of such activities.
Murder is wrong, but this guy paid his dues. Also Lennon was protesting the Vietnam war in the USA, and he wasn't a USA citizen. Maybe (probably) that was the reason Nixon was trying to get rid of him. By the way, I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I dislike all protesters. What do you think would happen to someone from the USA that went to another country and protested there? Lennon wasn't a god and Chapman isn't the devil.
May he first rot in prison and then on to hell. Never let him out.
The article reads, callous disregard for the sanctity of human life."
Isn't that what all murders are? By that logic, no murderer should be set free.
What would really be great? That some one would do that to," Casey Anthony"!!!!! I know it's not a Christian thing to do. But that little girl is gone.
One other thing before I read on. All murders should be executed. I sick of these sicko's living free and on the Federal and state monies that should be for citizens that need help. LIke the poor and homeless. There could be a better use for they money they waste on those killers who eat up tax dollars.
I don't know what your reasoning is behind this unusual statement - maybe you thought the Vietnam War was justified; but protesters do so because it's (usually) the most effective way to get their point across in a non-violent manner that it's the taxpayer's money that is being used to fund wars, and maybe there is a better use for it.
NinNe, I am black so how does that make ne a bigot for liking 2Pac and Dre?? Your a teenage baby boy who needs to do his homework so you don'ts ends up with da homies in Prison.
Npbody gives a crap about John Lennon except burnt out 60's hippies.....
7 to 7, And no one gives a crap about Jimi Hendrix except burned out hippies? Your boys just havn't gotten around to sampling John Lennon's music yet is all!
If justice is fair he would get parole like any other citizen killing any other citizen. People that think he deserves more because it was John Lenon are weak. John did not consider hin=mself better than other humans. If he was alive he would have forgiven him. Haters
@Whos money,
I agree. I don't find it more of a crime because JL was a celebrity. I actually find it more concerning when random killings happen and the general public is a target.
Don't get me wrong. Any unprovoked killing is wrong. Celebrities however generally choose fame. The average person on the street just wants to live in peace.
Seven, thank you for your service!
Good. My only reservation concerns the real possibility that Chapman was himself a "victim" of sorts, in the guise of a mind-control program, the ultimate aim of which training was the assassination of Lennon, a thorn in the side of the powers that be. It is something to consider, at the least, especially if you are up to speed on MK_ULTRA and other covert programs that occurred in actual terms.
No it is NOT something to consider. Don't let your paranoid delusions cloud your judgement. You're living in a fantasy world if you believe it.
So Woop2012, "MK_ULTRA" had Johnnie Carson & Elizabeth Taylor on their list as well? So they were "a thorn in the side of the powers that be" too? You really need to stay on schedule with your meds!
It must really grieve Yoko Ono to know that her husband was killed by a man who had no personal grievance against him, but simply as a matter of convenience because he was more "accessible" than Johnny Carson or Elisabeth Taylor. Still, while I don't quite agree with Woops idea of mind control, it does sound like Chapman may have been schizophrenic. He said he heard an inaudible voice at the time telling him, "Do it! Do it! Do it!" Hearing voices is a characteristic of schizophrenia.
I hope they continue to deny parole to this self-aggrandizing little coward who shot Lennon in the back because he wanted to be famous. Life in prison should mean life in prison - it's too bad they didn't have the death penalty in NY when the murder occurred, although I'm sure there are people who would volunteer to remedy that situation.
I agree, but he was sentenced to 25 years to life.
John would have forgiven him, haters!
Probably so, but the law and the citizens don't.
I'm pretty sure John would forgive him.
Chapman did it for fame. Just think of the fame he would achieve if he were released and killed another famous person. Can't chance that.
Wow. Denied? What a surprise. Oh, the humanity!
This is ridiculous. Let him out.
If he had killed a regular person like you or me, he would have been out 20 years ago.
I hate criminals but I am all for fairness. Our gov either needs to start locking up all violent people for life (or a very long time) or we need to let guys like this out since the time served for murder is about 10 years.
I wouldn't let him out. Based on this article, he still doesn't sound like a mentally stable individual. He needs to stay locked away for good. For his benefit and ours.
I have to agree with John....if he shot anybody else he would have been out long ago......I'm sure YoYo has something to do with this......I can't blame her I guess.
Think the best solution - if the parole board recommends parole then the family can either accept or reject it. If the victim does not have any family then the parole boards recommendation of parole is accepted.
Unfortunately your right about him being released if he had just killed some random person.
But I digress.
That to me is a flaw in the system and the punishment for a crime such as this should be life without parole. The person you killed is never again going to have the chance to live there life. Plus all the people, family & friends that suffered through the experience of a loved one being murdered for no reason and have lost the joy of having that person around for the rest of there lives.
The victim is never going to come back to life and the people that knew him are going to continue to suffer for the rest of theirs. So why shouldn't the person who caused it also be denied any semblance of a life and be meant to suffer as the victims families do.
That is also very true Jerry.
John would have forgiven him!
Does anyone recall the circumstances of the killing? Chapman traveled cross country,hung out outside The Dakota and had Lennon autograph his new album for him. He came back later that evening and at around 10:30 he stepped out of the shadows as John and Yoko were returning home. Chapman then emptied his handgun into John Lennon at close range and after he fell to the ground in front of his bride. I don't care if the person Chapman killed was famous or not. Anyone who would do such a thing is a monster,Lennon could very well forgive him but the State of New York sees it different.
I was being devils advocate.
Anyone guilty of murder should be put to death. Same goes for those who are found guilty of attempted murder, rape, and kidnapping. I am tired of paying the bills for the ultra violent in our society.
I wondered the same thing. While I have no problem with him spending the rest of his life in prison for his crime, I suspect if his victim had been named Joe Lemon instead of John Lennon, he'd be out by now. Some people will be treated differently not because of what their crime was, but because of who it was against. Would YOU like to be part of the parole board that lets John Lennon's killer go free?
kill a famous person and you're in for the long haul. He will possibly be released when Yoko dies but never while she is alive (nor should he be released)
I would kill this bastard with my bare hands. Let him out and let the populace take care of him before he reaches the curb; I'm tired for paying for someone who just wanted notoriety AND took John Lennon away from me.
Let him out. He can't be any worse than 99% of the people running this country. At least he was born in America
It took an entire comment list for someone to make it political. What a jerkwad.
99% running the country? youve been reading to much"catcher in the rye" too.
You killed an icon. You admitted considering killing several others, as well. You are where you belong until it's time to move to the prison graveyard.
let him out and send him to Afghanistan where he can apply his skills
"At his 2020 hearing..."???? He had a hearing in the future but spent 31 years in prison thus far? MSN, get some interns to do some spell check before you post your articles.
The usual shoddy reporting by MSNBC.
It is a reference to court procedure. I believe the 2020 hearing is a hearing to determine if the defendant is mentally capable of assisting in his own defense or if he is subject to a mental disease or defect.
hey roses....it's easy to see that was mearly a typo that was meant to be 1920....
What Cat said
While I have nothing against Chapman being denied parole, it`s too bad the justice system (in the US as well as in Canada) doesn't extend the same harshness to murderers of the not-so-famous. Justice should be equally severe or lenient for all.
Lennon? now there is a communist surname if ever there was one.
yankme, you're an idiot.
How are Lenin and Lennon the same?
your a RATARD, LENIN
Yes, communism is bad. Perhaps Lennon can be compared to that other great communist, Groucho Marx.
Wren, they are pronounced the same....(sarcasm off)
MrLightRail,
So are "know" and "no". It doesn't make them mean the same thing.
Welcome to the idiot's club. (sarcasm off)
MrLightRail,
So are "know" and "no". It doesn't make them mean the same thing.
Welcome to the idiot's club. (sarcasm off)
The problem is that we make it so easy for mentally unstable people to buy guns.
True. We need to screen people for mental illnesses regularly and lock them up pre-emptively.
If that was the case every right wing Republican conservative in America would be headed for the nut house.
And another political reference.Bet you feel good getting it off your chest.
Put Ted Nugent at the top of THAT list.
I would like to know how much it is costing the US people to keep this guy alive, and for what purpose. A horrible way to live, for a horrible person at a horrible cost. Think about it.
The very reality that this stone cold murderer has had the opportunity to come before a parole board SEVEN times shows how screwed up the lawyers have made our judicial system!!!
Charles Manson came up for parole all the time and that was a very scary dude.
Maybe we should put this guy in with Manson?
This man should be put to death immediately !!
For somehow not hitting Yoko with a shot or two this man should be put to death!
Truth!
Niiice, Derek. You're a real class act.
For real.
I thought Double Fantasy album was stupid, boring, and self-endulging on Lennon's part.
Who cares that you love changing your baby's diaper?
Write some real music and keep that double fantasy crap to yourself.
GayAtheistMatine, why is your post so hateful? Apparently you think you are a music critic. Tell you what - you can criticize Lennon's songwriting when you can do it better.
Not that life hasn't been interesting since 1980, but John sure would have made it more so.
ya,i can just "imagine".john was the man.
I like that face that they said that this was a calculated crime. He should have been convicted of Murder 1 not Murder 2. He, and other murderers, should never see the light of day.
He couldn't be convicted of first degree murder, because in New York at that time, the only first degree murder was killing a cop.
It's all about $$$$. Look at Duane Chapman (Dog, the bounty hunter). This low-life bald-headed dirtbag also killed a man and now he's a "Superstar" to a lot of equally pathetic people in TV land. We take murderers and make them icons. I think it is us who needs to be locked up.
So did Laura Bush, I may be wrong, but I'm not sure Dog and the former FLOTUS were murderers.
Now Ted Kennedy...
Rot in there you miscreant , I think the punishment should increase every year and I pray that if you ever do get out you last about ten minutes before somebody unloads six or seven slugs in your heart. I get incensed every time I hear your name and since you will never get out when the time comes I hope you die a slow and miserable death . An animal like you cannot be rehabilitated Drop dead. PS any Chapman sympathizers same wishes to you
And this post wasn't deleted or collapsed???!!! You sound like you're an animal. Murder is wrong, but murderers are released from prison every year. Lennon was protesting the Vietnam war and he wasn't even an American citizen. I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I dislike all protesters of any war.
There are a lot of us Nam Vets out here and I dislike the war mongers like yourself and the protesters finally got the job done and the stupid war ended, but a lot of us soldiers at the time hated the war and most of us still hate war and condone it only as a last resort. I could never understand how anyone can enjoy war, has to be something wrong with anyone who does and that's my two cents worth..
I'm a war monger? Where did you get that from? I enjoy war? Where did you get that from? I'm a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran and I never enjoyed or wanted to be in a war. But my country told me to go, so I went. The point I was trying to make was, Lennon wasn't even a USA citizen and he was leading protests in MY country. So I guess that makes me a war monger and a lover of wars. You gotta' get real.
I can't understand all of the haters, you people hate just about everything and everybody, even on this topic there you are.....hating on John Lennon or even worse hating on his widow.
Are you gay?
Really now a gay comment. What does that have to do with it? Calling people names because they disagree with you and because they call out haters. Seriously mature (sarcasm).
Was does this crap come up every couple of years? Chapman's lived the life of Riley for 30 years.
John Lennon would have asked for mercy for this guy. Thats exactly why killing Lennon was such a horrible crime against not just Lennon, but humanity. Lennon was a modern day Jesus or Moses or whoever you think was a good and decent person when they lived who preached peace and love of thy fellow man, Lennon was that guy.
I have to say part of me wants to honor what I know would be Lennon's wish's, but part of me want this guy locked up forever, I guess thats why guys like him are so special and rare in this life.
Inmate Chapman has certainly lived a better life than he afforded the late John Lennon and a far better life than he deserves.
ColTrautman _________Suppose someone offered you a deal. You would be provided with a life of extravegant luxury, gourmet food, fine clothes, as much of whatever kind of sex you wanted, whatever you want, just whistle, the whole nine yards, BUT you would be kept imprisoned in this luxuiant prison all the days of your life. Which would you choose????----THOUGHT SO !!!