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John Lennon's Killer Denied Parole for 7th Time

By Andrew Lu on August 23, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's killer, has been denied parole by the New York Parole Board once again.

This was the 57-year-old Chapman's seventh attempt at parole, and it came just ahead of the 32nd anniversary of John Lennon's death. Lennon, the former Beatles lead singer, was gunned down outside his Manhattan apartment on Dec. 8, 1980, reports CNN.

The Parole Board's decision comes just one day after Chapman's interview with the board.

Chapman was convicted in 1981 of killing John Lennon, and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. Ever since his 20-year anniversary in prison, Chapman has applied for parole and been denied every other year.

Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's killer, was denied parole in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. In 2010, the Parole Board found that his "discretionary release remains inappropriate at this time and incompatible with the welfare of the community," reports CNN.

Generally, at a Parole Board hearing, the board will weigh several factors to determine if parole is appropriate. These factors may include:

  • The crime committed, and the inmate's criminal history;
  • The inmate's history of behavior while in prison including disciplinary records, treatment participation, program involvement and achievements, and overall adjustment;
  • The inmate's immediate plans and future goals including evidence that the inmate can get a job and assimilate into the community; and
  • The wishes of the victim, or the victim's family members.

In previous parole attempts, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono has submitted letters requesting that parole be denied.

If recent history is any lesson, Mark David Chapman will likely apply for parole yet again in 2014. It will interesting to see if anything happens that will change the Parole Board's decision about the fate of John Lennon's killer.

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