Chapman denied parole again

[lukpac]

Now let's never speak the evil-doer's name again.

On a slightly more serious note, I really think if the tables were turned - Lennon (or Spector!) killed a "nobody" - everybody would be clamoring for his release. "He's done his time!" "He's really really sorry!" "He's all better now!" But since Lennon was a celebrity, we deem his death - and the revenge for it - as far more important.

John Lennon's killer denied parole
Wednesday, 06 October , 2004, 12:57

New York: Mark David Chapman, the man convicted of murdering John Lennon outside the former Beatle's Manhattan apartment building, was denied a request for parole on Tuesday, officials said.

The New York State Board of Parole refused to grant Chapman's request for release from prison. Chapman, now 49, was sentenced to 20 years to life after shooting Lennon five times in the back on December 8, 1980.

Tuesday was the third time Chapman applied for parole since becoming eligible in 2000. In both previous cases, the board denied his request.

Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, opposed the parole, arguing that Chapman continues to pose a risk to herself and her family. "Your course of conduct over a lengthy period of time shows a clear lack of respect for life and subjected the wife of the victim to monumental suffering by her witnessing the crime," the board added.

"During the interview your statements for motivation acknowledges the attention you felt this murder would generate. Although proven true, such rationale is bizarre and morally corrupt." To release Chapman on parole ‘would significantly undermine respect for the law’, the board concluded.

Chapman may seek a new parole review in October 2006. Lennon fans also organised an online petition calling for Chapman to remain in prison for the rest of his life, garnering about 2,000 signatures.

"Chapman committed a heinous crime, unprovoked and without remorse. He shot to death John Lennon, a man who had signed an autograph for him only six hours earlier. He deserves to pay for this with life in prison," the petition said.

"It is also a matter of public safety that he not be released. He should not be free to harm anyone else. Please remember that Mark David Chapman is forty-nine years old, and John Lennon never got to be older than forty."

In 1990, Chapman expressed his remorse for having killed Lennon but his first parole request in 2000 was denied because board members said he still had the same desire for ‘fame and notoriety’ that led to the murder. Two years ago, the board noted Chapman's ‘very positive’ behavioural record, but added that progress in such a controlled and structured environment ‘cannot predict your community behaviour’ if released.

In a rare interview several years ago with the British press, Chapman, who is serving his time in Attica maximum security prison in northern New York state, said he was sure that Lennon would have forgiven him and wished his release.

"I think he would be liberal, I think he would care," he said. This year marked the 40th anniversary since The Beatles, on the back of their first US number one, flew into New York for a tour that took America by storm and heralded the start of the ‘British invasion’ of the US music charts.

Only two of the Fab Four, Lennon's songwriting partner Paul McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr, are still alive. George Harrison died of cancer in 2001.

[Crummy Old Label Avatar]

Imagine if Chapman had shot Yoko instead. What would the SDMEtv law 'n' order league be saying about his parole hearing for that? Think about it. I'm serious.