Mark David Chapman — the man who murdered John Lennon — has apologized to Yoko Ono 40 years after he shot and killed the Beatles legend.
In August, Chapman was denied parole for the 11th time after he shot and killed Lennon on December 8, 1980, outside the artist's Manhattan apartment.
Now transcripts from the recent parole hearing have emerged through the Press Association [via the BBC], and they find Chapman saying he killed Lennon for "glory," adding that he wanted to say sorry to Ono for his "cold-heartedness." Chapman went on to describe his crime as a "despicable act."
"I knew it was wrong and I did it for glory. One word, just glory," Chapman said during his parole hearing. "That's it. It was that he was famous, extremely famous. That's why he was at the top of the list.
"I deserve the death penalty. I think that says it all. I'm sorry for the pain that I caused to her [Ono]."
Chapman added, "I just want to reiterate that I'm sorry for my crime. I have no excuse. This was for self-glory. I think it's the worst crime that there could be to do something to someone that's innocent.
"He was extremely famous. I didn't kill him because of his character or the kind of man he was. He was a family man. He was an icon. He was someone that spoke of things that now we can speak of and it's great."
He continued: "I assassinated him, to use your word earlier, 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.
"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."
In the parole board's decision to deny Chapman parole for the 11th time, the board stated it "would be incompatible with the welfare of society."
Chapman was 25 at the time of his crime, and he's now 65. During the hearing, he repeatedly stated he deserved the death penalty, though it was abolished in the state of New York — where he is in prison — in 2007.
"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," said Chapman during the hearing. "Some people disagree with me, but everybody gets a second chance now."
Chapman was asked by the parole board if justice had been served, to which he replied: "I deserve zero, nothing.
He added: "If the law and you choose to leave me in here for the rest of my life, I have no complaint whatsoever."
The board also stated how Chapman's "selfish actions stole the chance for future fans to experience the words of inspiration that this artist provided for millions of people.... Your violent act caused devastation to not only family and former band members, but the world."
Chapman will next be eligible for parole in two years.
As previously reported, the John Lennon box set Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes is set to arrive on October 9 — the day on which Lennon would have turned 80 years old.
In August, Chapman was denied parole for the 11th time after he shot and killed Lennon on December 8, 1980, outside the artist's Manhattan apartment.
Now transcripts from the recent parole hearing have emerged through the Press Association [via the BBC], and they find Chapman saying he killed Lennon for "glory," adding that he wanted to say sorry to Ono for his "cold-heartedness." Chapman went on to describe his crime as a "despicable act."
"I knew it was wrong and I did it for glory. One word, just glory," Chapman said during his parole hearing. "That's it. It was that he was famous, extremely famous. That's why he was at the top of the list.
"I deserve the death penalty. I think that says it all. I'm sorry for the pain that I caused to her [Ono]."
Chapman added, "I just want to reiterate that I'm sorry for my crime. I have no excuse. This was for self-glory. I think it's the worst crime that there could be to do something to someone that's innocent.
"He was extremely famous. I didn't kill him because of his character or the kind of man he was. He was a family man. He was an icon. He was someone that spoke of things that now we can speak of and it's great."
He continued: "I assassinated him, to use your word earlier, 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.
"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."
In the parole board's decision to deny Chapman parole for the 11th time, the board stated it "would be incompatible with the welfare of society."
Chapman was 25 at the time of his crime, and he's now 65. During the hearing, he repeatedly stated he deserved the death penalty, though it was abolished in the state of New York — where he is in prison — in 2007.
"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," said Chapman during the hearing. "Some people disagree with me, but everybody gets a second chance now."
Chapman was asked by the parole board if justice had been served, to which he replied: "I deserve zero, nothing.
He added: "If the law and you choose to leave me in here for the rest of my life, I have no complaint whatsoever."
The board also stated how Chapman's "selfish actions stole the chance for future fans to experience the words of inspiration that this artist provided for millions of people.... Your violent act caused devastation to not only family and former band members, but the world."
Chapman will next be eligible for parole in two years.
As previously reported, the John Lennon box set Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes is set to arrive on October 9 — the day on which Lennon would have turned 80 years old.
