Lennon killer denied parole

The man who shot former Beatle John Lennon 20 years ago, has been denied parole following a short hearing by New York State prison officials, BBC reports.Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in jail in 1980 after pleading guilty to shooting the former Beatle outside his apartment in New York City's Dakota Building. On Tuesday morning he was interviewed for 50 minutes by three parole board members at the maximum security Attica state prison. It was Chapman's first application for parole. About four hours later he was handed the board's one-page ruling, beginning with the statement: "Parole is denied". The ruling said, that releasing Chapman, who is now aged 45, would "deprecate the seriousness of the crime and serve to undermine respect for the law".

It went on to note that Chapman's killing of the former Beatle was a "calculated and unprovoked" attack on one of the world's most famous musicians, who was also a "husband and a father of two young children". "Your most vicious and violent act was apparently fuelled by your need to be acknowledged," the ruling said. "During your parole hearing, this panel noted your continued interest in maintaining your notoriety."