John Lennon’s Killer Apologizes to Yoko Ono After 40 Years

Mark David Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon outside his apartment in 1980, has apologized to the widowed Yoko Ono. He describes his crime as "despicable" and says he "deserves" the death penalty.

The 65-year-old was denied parole on August 19th, told the parole board he killed Lennon for "self-glory."

“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,” Chapman said in his apology to Lennon’s family.

“I want to add that and emphasize 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,” he added at the hearing held at Wende Correctional Facility in Erie County.

Chapman has became eligible for parole in 2000, is required every two years to have a parole, but has been denied 11 times due to the parole board determining he “would be incompatible with the welfare of society."

When asked if he felt justice has been served, Chapman said “When you knowingly plot someone’s murder and know it’s wrong and you do it for yourself, that’s a death penalty right there in my opinion. If the law and you choose to leave me in here for the rest of my life, I have no complaint whatsoever.”

Read more at NY Post