Lennon's killer denied parole

The Toronto Sun ^ | October 10 2002 | Associated Press

[xp38]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- John Lennon's killer was denied parole for a second time yesterday on what would have been the slain Beatle's 62nd birthday.

Releasing Mark David Chapman after 22 years in prison would "depreciate the seriousness" of the crime, the parole board said in a statement released yesterday. The board said Chapman had "acceptable" behaviour in prison but that didn't guarantee he wouldn't pose a threat to society.

State Parole Division spokesman Thomas Grant said the timing of the notice wasn't intentional. At his first parole hearing two years ago, Chapman said he did not deserve to go free. He will be up for parole again in 2004.

Chapman, 47, is serving 20 years to life for shooting Lennon outside his Manhattan apartment in 1980 as the former Beatle returned from a late-night recording sessio

[Alberta's Child]

Releasing Mark David Chapman after 22 years in prison would "depreciate the seriousness" of the crime, the parole board said in a statement released yesterday.

There's no way this guy should be paroled, but let's not kid ourselves --- if he had killed almost anyone else but John Lennon, he would have been back on the street a long time ago.

[Jack Wilson]

I thought Lennon was killed by a gun?

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Yeah 22 years is way above the average for this kind of crime. Of course the death penalty would have spared us the worry and expense of this.