The latest request for freedom by John Lennon’s killer Mark David Chapman has ended in failure for a sixth time.
According to the New York State Division of Parole, a panel of parole board commissioners conducted an interview with Chapman via video conference from their headquarters in Rochester and in written comments following the meeting, told Chapman they had concerns ‘about the disregard you displayed for the norms of our society and the sanctity of human life.’ They added that his terrible actions that night in 1980 means that a ‘discretionary release remains inappropriate at this time and incompatible with the welfare of the community.’
The refusal follows his last attempt for parole in 2008, when he was told of the denial due to ‘concern for the public safety and welfare.’ He has previously been unsuccessful in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Chapman is serving 20 years to life in prison for shooting John Lennon outside his New York apartment on December 8, 1980, shortly after Lennon had completed recording the track ‘Walking On Thin Ice‘. To date, he has served 29 years of his sentence at the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility, and is next due for parole in August 2012.
December 8th this year will mark the 30th anniversary of Lennon’s untimely death.