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John Lennon's killer apologises to Yoko Ono

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John Lennon's killer has apologised to his widow Yoko Ono, saying his murder was "despicable" and merits a lifetime behind bars. Mark David Chapman, 65, was denied parole at a hearing in New York on 19 August, a Press Association freedom of information request has revealed. A transcript of the hearing shows officials denied his release because "it would be incompatible with the welfare of society".

Chapman, who was 25 at the time of Lennon's death, shot the Beatles star four times in Manhattan in December 1980 - as his wife looked on. He apologised to the 40-year-old's widow, saying he only killed the singer for "self-glory", admitting his actions were "despicable" and "pretty creepy". Chapman also believes he should have been given the death penalty, according to the transcript.

He told officials: "I just want to reiterate that I'm sorry for my crime. 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. 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. I assassinated him… because he was very, very, very famous and that's the only reason and I was very, very, very, very much seeking self-glory, very selfish. I want to add that and emphasise that greatly. It was an extremely selfish act. I'm sorry for the pain that I caused to her [Ono]. I think about it all of the time."

Chapman is married and his wife, 69, lives near Wende Correctional Facility in New York, where he has spent the past eight years. He describes himself as deeply religious and a "devoted Christian". The 65-year-old wakes up at 6.30am every day and works as a porter and clerk in the block he lives in - which is separate from the rest of the prison - for his own protection, the transcript says. In its decision, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision board said it found a claim he made that "infamy brings you glory" disturbing.

It commended his "personal growth and productive use of time" but said his "selfish actions stole the chance for future fans to experience the words of inspiration that this artist provide for millions of people". "Your violent act caused devastation to not only family and former band members, but the world," it added. Chapman is next eligible for parole in two years.

https://news.sky.com/story/john-lennons-killer-apologises-to-his-widow-yoko-ono-for-despicable-crime-he-committed-for-self-glory-12078171

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I feel like… it's up to the loved-ones of a person to forgive (if they so choose to), but the person who did the deed can't apologize. I mean, I don't know, it just seems crass. Like. It's not really something you can apologize for. Ya done the deed, sir. You can talk about how things have changed in perspective for you, and you've changed but, idk. Seems like a weird scenario. 

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Why apologize 40 years after you killed the man? That makes no sense to me. 

12 minutes ago, LittleDudeNT5 said:

I feel like… it's up to the loved-ones of a person to forgive (if they so choose to), but the person who did the deed can't apologize. I mean, I don't know, it just seems crass. Like. It's not really something you can apologize for. Ya done the deed, sir. You can talk about how things have changed in perspective for you, and you've changed but, idk. Seems like a weird scenario. 

Basically all of this

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20 minutes ago, STJ said:

I thought he killed John for writing the atheist anthem with the lyrics, "Imagine there's no heaven". jj3

he killed him because he hated everything about the lyrics in the song "god" i think its called

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15 hours ago, STJ said:

I thought he killed John for writing the atheist anthem with the lyrics, "Imagine there's no heaven". jj3

 

14 hours ago, Chris Morlock said:

he killed him because he hated everything about the lyrics in the song "god" i think its called

Idk if either of you are interested but here's some additional info on this:

It's hard to say exactly what prompted it tbh...he's given about a dozen different versions in the last 40 years about why he did it and how he did (which is why there's so much confusion as to how exactly the shooting went down). The most historically accepted reason is that he became obsessed with John and the obsession morphed from adoration to anger. He was upset with John's atheism but also with the fact that John appeared to be the things he wanted most to be but couldn't be. MDC was obsessed with the book The Catcher in the Rye who's main character is jealous of the people he perceives to be better than him and acts out because of it. MDC is a paranoid schizophrenic. All that combined together at some point and he said he began hearing voices telling him to kill John. He bought a gun, took his copy of The Catcher in the Rye, and started hanging out outside John's apartment.

That morning he tried to talk to John's kid as he walked inside with the nanny, and that evening John actually signed a copy of his new album for Chapman (there's a photo of this and it's thought to be the last photo of John alive). He waited outside the apartment until later that night when John got back from the studio. This is where the stories grow inconsistent: either he was silent and shot John twice in the back from a standing position by the road or he called out John's name from by plants closer to the actual building, went down into a kneeling position, and shot once and missed before shooting two more times and connecting in his back. As John crawled into the lobby of his apartment, MDC sat down on the curb reading the book, and waited for the cops to arrive, going with them willingly.

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