Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon in 1980, has been denied parole for the 8th time after a hearing on Wednesday, according to the New York Daily News (via The Guardian). After pleading guilty to second degree murder in 1981, he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
The three-member committee chose to deny his release because they believe he might soon commit more crimes. The decision states that “the panel has determined that if released at this time, there is a reasonable probability that you would not live and remain at liberty without again violating the law.”
According to the Daily News, Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono told the parole board that she opposed the release of Chapman “out of fear for herself and Lennon’s two sons,” but a lawyer for Ono didn’t offer any specific comment to the paper.
In previous parole hearings Chapman expressed remorse for his crime saying that he will pay for his crime “however long it takes.” He will be eligible for parole again in two years.
