Mark David Chapman: John Lennon's killer has been denied parole 11 times since 2000, will he ever be a free man?
Four decades ago, the world lost an icon. Beatles founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist John Lennon died on the evening of December 8, 1980, after a fan named Mark David Chapman fired five bullets from a .38 special revolver in the archway of his New York residence, The Dakota. Lennon, 40, was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. Meanwhile, Chapman stayed at the same spot reading his favorite book JD Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye' until he was handcuffed by cops.
Next year, on August 24, 1981, Chapman was sentenced to 20 years for the second-degree murder which he had been reportedly planning for months. A raging alcoholic, Chapman plotted to kill his idol during one of his drinking sessions, as per an Independent report. His reason? Chapman confessed later that he was irked by Lennon's remarks about how the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus" and was offended by the lyrics of Lenon's songs 'God' and 'Imagine'.
Initially, his legal team entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and said he was in a "delusional psychotic state". However, once the trial date was closer, he told the team that he wanted to plead guilty by the "will of God." He was held at Attica Correctional Facility outside of Buffalo, New York. In 2015, he was transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York, which is east of Buffalo.
Over the years, his many attempts to be released on parole have failed. At one of those meetings, he even said, "I would immediately try to find a job, and I really want to go from place to place, at least in the state, church to church and tell people what happened to me and point them the way to Christ." As we look back to the day when he was sentenced, here's a timeline on his requests for parole and why they have been denied 11 times since 2000.
2000
Chapman first became eligible for parole in the year 2000 and at the 50-minute hearing, he said Lennon would have approved of his release as he isn't a "danger" to the society. Even though he had a good disciplinary record in prison, the board said it was unlikely he would ever be freed as they would not risk the "political heat". Moreover, Lennon's wife Yoko Ono released a letter to The Associated Press through her spokeswoman Eliot Mintz saying: "Violence begets violence. If it is at all possible, I would like us to not create a situation which may bring further madness and tragedy to the world."
2002
Two years later, Chapman was again denied parole after the board said in a statement that it would "deprecate the seriousness" of the crime even though his behavioral record was positive.
2004
At his third hearing, Chapman was declined parole again. Explaining their decision, the New York State Division of Parole wrote to him that it "was based on the extreme malicious intent you exhibited during the instant offense where you fired a handgun multiple times striking your target — John Lennon."
2006
In a 16-minute hearing, the board concluded that the release won't be in the best interest of the community or his own personal safety. Moreover, Ono published a one-page advertisement in several newspapers and publicly announced she was not ready to forgive Chapman.
2008
The fifth time, the board gave a thumbs down to Chapman's parole "due to concern for the public safety and welfare."
2010
Much before Chapman's sixth hearing, Ono announced she would oppose his parole. "I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once again," she said. The hearing was postponed to September and eventually declined after the panel stated the "release remains inappropriate at this time and incompatible with the welfare of the community."
2012
A three-member board denied parole to Chapman saying, "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."
2014
On his eighth parole meeting, Chapman apologized for Lennon's murder. "I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory.… I found my peace in Jesus. I know him. He loves me. He has forgiven me. He has helped in my life like you wouldn't believe." However, the board denied it again.
2016
The ninth time, Chapman told the board his crime was "premeditated, selfish and evil." However, they denied parole saying his release would "be incompatible with the welfare of society" and "undermine respect for the law".
2018
The tenth time too, Chapman was turned down. The board said he "planned and executed the murder of a world-famous person for no reason other than to gain notoriety" and added, "And while no one person’s life is any more valuable than another’s life, the fact that you chose someone who was not only a world-renowned person and beloved by millions regardless of the pain and suffering you would cause to his family, friends and so many others, you demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the suffering of others. This fact remains a concern to this panel."
2020
At his 11th parole, Chapman apologized to Yoko Ono, saying he thinks about the “despicable act” all the time and accepts he may spend the rest of his life behind bars. “I just want to reiterate that I’m sorry for my crime,” he said. “I have no excuse. This was for self-glory. I think it’s the worst crime that there could be to do something to someone that’s innocent.”
Clarifying his stance, he also added, “I just want her to know that she knows her husband like no one else and knows the kind of man he was. I didn't. I just judged him from a book and I murdered him. He was in a book. He was extremely famous. I didn't kill him because of his character or the kind of man he was. He was a family man. He was an icon. He was someone that spoke of things that now we can speak of and it's great," he said.
It is quite unlikely that the board would ever give a green light and there seems to be very little chance for him to be a free man again.