9 th Parole Denial for John Lennon's Killer

John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman denied parole
BY Kenneth Lovett
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF
Sunday, August 28, 2016, 4:00 AM 
  
Mark David Chapman, killer of John Lennon, is seen in this May 15, 2012, photo from the New York State Department of Corrections. (New York State Department of Corrections)   FILE- In this undated file photo, John Lennon is shown. Dec. 8, 2012 marks the 32nd anniversary of Lennon’s death. Lennon was shot and killed as he left his building in New York by Mark David Chapman. He was 40 years old. (AP Photo)
ALBANY — Imagine. John Lennon's killer has been denied parole for a ninth time.
Mark David Chapman met with a three-member parole panel during the week and was later informed he will be kept behind bars at least another two years, when he will be next eligible for parole, a state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision official told the Daily News.
The official did not know the reasoning behind the decision.  But in the past, the Parole Board — even while citing Chapman's clean prison record since 1994 — has routinely said that releasing him would "undermine respect for the law." A lawyer and spokesman for Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, did not return calls for comment Saturday. Chapman, 61, shot Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, as the famed ex-Beatle and Ono returned to their Dakota building home across from Central Park after a late night recording session.  Sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, Chapman currently resides at upstate Wende Correctional Facility.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/john-lennon-killer-mark-david-chapman-denied-parole-article-1.2768304  

John Lennon's killer denied parole, says he was an 'idiot' for killing Beatle
By Alan Duke, CNN

Updated 5:15 PM ET, Thu August 28, 2014
Chapman said he sold a Norman Rockwell painting to finance the assassination plot, which he described as "very well thought out."
 It involved "incredible planning, absolutely, incredible stalking." Chapman, 59, fired five rounds into Lennon outside New York's Dakota Hotel on the evening of December 8, 1980. But in the 34 years since then, Chapman has found God, he testified to three New York parole commissioners August 20.
"I found my peace in Jesus," Chapman said. "I know him. He loves me. He has forgiven me. He has helped in my life like you wouldn't believe.
He also told the parole board that he was "an idiot" for killing Lennon "and choosing the wrong way to glory."  But the "bright light of fame, of infamy, notoriety" was irresistible, he added. 8th bid for release Chapman's testimony last week was his eighth request for freedom since he became eligible for release under the 20-years-to-life sentence for his second-degree murder conviction. The commissioners denied parole as they've done seven times before -- in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. 
The decision said the board found a "reasonable probability that (Chapman) would not live and remain at liberty without again violating the law" and that his release "would be incompatible with the welfare of society and would so deprecate the serious nature of the crime as to undermine respect for the law." The hearing transcript and the decision were made public Wednesday.  The commissioners questioned Chapman about why he decided to kill Lennon and how he carried out the murder. "I was confused," he told them. "I needed a lot of attention at that time, and I took it out on him." Chapman, who was 25 at the time, said his life had "sunk to a depressed state" and he was drinking. "I just saw that as my way out, you know, a lazy way out of my doldrums. It was a horrible decision, but I knew what I was doing." Decision was made at a young age. The idea of killing Lennon began when he read a book about the Beatles as a child, a time when be was "feeling left out," he said. "I just said to myself what would happen if I killed him," Chapman said. "I remember that, and then the idea just avalanched on me that this was something I am going to have to do. It grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let go." He acknowledged to the board that he had several "alternate targets" to kill, although the names were redacted in the published transcript. The commissioners noted that all of the former targets are now dead. The police officer who arrested him showed CNN letters sent to him by Chapman in 1983 saying that actors Marlon Brando and George C. Scott, former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis and CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite were on his hit list. He made two trips to New York to stalk and plan, he said. His first trip ended when his wife convinced him to return to their home in Hawaii, where he said he tried to get counseling. "They said that there was a backup and they couldn't see me," Chapman said. He convinced his wife that he had thrown away his gun and she had no idea his second trip to New York was to kill someone, he said" I told her I was coming to New York to write a book, a children's book, and that I kind of needed space to find myself and she believed me," Chapman testified. "She really did. I think if she would have thought otherwise she would have stopped somebody or called somebody. I was very convincing."  He sold a Norman Rockwell painting to pay his airfare to New York from Hawaii and his hotel expenses, he said.  Bullets came from police officer Chapman, who grew up in Atlanta, said he stopped in his hometown on the way. He asked a friend who was an Atlanta police officer for help. "I told him I had the gun, but I couldn't get bullets, and I needed protection while I was in New York," he said. "He gave me five bullets."  Lennon was "very kind" to him when Chapman encountered him before the shooting, even signing a copy of his latest album, he testified. He knew he "could have turned it around" and not killed Lennon, but he chose not to, he said. "That bright light of fame, of infamy, notoriety was there," Chapman said. "I couldn't resist it. My self-esteem was shot, and I was looking for an easy way out. It was a bad way out, but it was the way I chose and it was horrible."  Lennon a 'great and talented man'.
He told the parole board that he realized the pain he has caused by killing Lennon, who he said was "a great and talented man. I am sorry for causing that type of pain," he said. "I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way to glory." He's no longer seeking notoriety, he said. "Got enough of that. I don't need anymore.  I am interested in one thing and that's ministering to prisoners," he said. "Me and my wife have a ministry. We distribute brochures that tell people about Christ." His wife has stood by him for 35 years. She visited last year and is planning to visit later this year, he said." I can't believe she stuck with me all these years but she has," he said. "We're closer to the Lord now than we were on the street, so I am going to credit him with keeping our marriage together and our sanity, but she is still with me."
If freed, he has a job lined up with a New York minister, he said. His skills include fixing wheelchairs, which he does as a prison job, he said. He told the commissioners he expected them to deny his parole and he understood they are just doing their jobs.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/28/showbiz/mark-chapman-parole-denied/

Original Quill wrote:What makes you feel he has be rehabilitated?

The official did not know the reasoning behind the decision.  But in the past, the Parole Board —even while citing Chapman's clean prison record since 1994 — has routinely said that releasing him would "undermine respect for the law." A lawyer and spokesman for Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, did not return calls for comment Saturday. Chapman, 61, shot Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, as the famed ex-Beatle and Ono returned to their Dakota building home across from Central Park after a late night recording session.

4EVER2 wrote:

Original Quill wrote:What makes you feel he has be rehabilitated?

What would make me feel that he's not been?

The official did not know the reasoning behind the decision.  But in the past, the Parole Board —even while citing Chapman's clean prison record since 1994 — has routinely said that releasing him would "undermine respect for the law." A lawyer and spokesman for Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, did not return calls for comment Saturday. Chapman, 61, shot Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, as the famed ex-Beatle and Ono returned to their Dakota building home across from Central Park after a late night recording session.

I firmly believe in our death penalty too ...but either we have a process for rehabilatation of prisoners or we don't and in this case he's getting the above & and beyond persecution not because of what he's corrected in his life but ONLY because of whom he's killed. IMO

eddie wrote:"Why aren't they releasing this man?"  Good question.

Maybe he didn't do it?

Original Quill wrote:

4EVER2 wrote:
What would make me feel that he's not been?
I firmly believe in our death penalty too ...but either we have a process for rehabilatation of prisoners or we don't and in this case he's getting the above & and beyond persecution not because of what he's corrected in his life but ONLY because of whom he's killed. IMO

Well, I don't know why he's getting persecution, or even if he is, because the official won't disclose the reasoning behind the decision not to grant parole.  But I will say that even though we have a process for rehabilitation there's no guarantee that it will work, or when.  Frankly, I don't see evidence of a change (rehabilitation) even now.  Sure, he's found Jesus, but everyone in prison does.

My suspicion is there was more to his confused state-of-mind than mere alcohol and drugs when he killed Lennon, as he claims.  At some point back in the day, some doctor had to testify that he was psychotic in some way.  That testimony must be respected, and his progress has to be measured against it today.

Shucks, I was young and drank a lot does sound a little too frivolous given the nature of the crime.  So, I'm not surprised it doesn't fly before the parole board.

eddie wrote:As to the question in the OP - has he been rehabilitated, I'd say the sentence was too long in the first place.
He as drunk and decided to kill someone?
How drunk was he - if very, then surely Lennon would've seen him stumbling toward him?

Sounds like a crock of shit to me.

4EVER2 wrote:

John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman denied parole
BY Kenneth Lovett
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF
Sunday, August 28, 2016, 4:00 AM 
  
Mark David Chapman, killer of John Lennon, is seen in this May 15, 2012, photo from the New York State Department of Corrections. (New York State Department of Corrections)   FILE- In this undated file photo, John Lennon is shown. Dec. 8, 2012 marks the 32nd anniversary of Lennon’s death. Lennon was shot and killed as he left his building in New York by Mark David Chapman. He was 40 years old. (AP Photo)
ALBANY — Imagine. John Lennon's killer has been denied parole for a ninth time.
Mark David Chapman met with a three-member parole panel during the week and was later informed he will be kept behind bars at least another two years, when he will be next eligible for parole, a state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision official told the Daily News.
The official did not know the reasoning behind the decision.  But in the past, the Parole Board — even while citing Chapman's clean prison record since 1994 — has routinely said that releasing him would "undermine respect for the law." A lawyer and spokesman for Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, did not return calls for comment Saturday. Chapman, 61, shot Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, as the famed ex-Beatle and Ono returned to their Dakota building home across from Central Park after a late night recording session.  Sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, Chapman currently resides at upstate Wende Correctional Facility.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/john-lennon-killer-mark-david-chapman-denied-parole-article-1.2768304  

Why aren't we releasing this man?
We either believe in our penal system for rehabbing these 1 time offenders back into society or we're being exceptionally cruel due to the loveable - fond memories for the musician that he murdered?
What do you think - haven't we taught this man the error of his ways - hasn't he proven that he's trust worthy - he's been a model prisoner - we've paroled repeat offenders with far more heinous records then this 1 time murderer?

4EVER2 wrote:

eddie wrote:As to the question in the OP - has he been rehabilitated, I'd say the sentence was too long in the first place.
He as drunk and decided to kill someone?
How drunk was he - if very, then surely Lennon would've seen him stumbling toward him?

Sounds like a crock of shit to me.

Reading ...just not one of your best attributes {much like Tommykins}, you really need to READ the article or ignore the topic!

FFS, John was shot in the BACK! 

Jules wrote:Yes, people sometimes questioned whether anyone else was behind this murder.  Cos of course there is a CT attached to the shooting of any famous person. No credible CT's emerged in this particular case, after all these years. He did it, he acted alone.

Each member is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a six-year term. One member is designated by the Governor to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Division. The primary functions and powers of the Board are:

• Making Release Determinations: The Board determines which inmates serving indeterminate sentences in state prison may be released on Parole. The Executive Law (Section 259-i (2) (a)) requires the Board to personally interview inmates eligible for release. Inmates do not have the right to counsel at release interviews. The typical panel consists of two or three board members who are responsible for:
  - Interviewing the inmate;
  - Reviewing summary reports prepared by facility parole officers; and
  - Determining whether the inmate will be released to parole supervision.
  

• Making Release Determinations: The Board sets conditions of release for inmates released on parole. In addition, it sets release conditions for inmates "conditionally released" to supervision by statute. These inmates earned time off their maximum sentence for good behavior. Sentencing reforms enacted in 1995 and 1998 change sentences for violent felony offenders. Violent offenders now receive determinant prison sentences and are released to parole supervision without appearing before the Board for release consideration. However, the Board still imposes conditions of release for these offenders.
  

• Revoking Parole: Under Executive Law (Section 259-i (3) (f) (x)), the Board has the authority to revoke parole when it determines a releasee has violated the conditions of release "in an important respect." Board action may return the individual to State prison or impose other appropriate sanctions. In some cases, Board action has been delegated to Administrative Hearing Officers. Under the authority of the Board, the Division adjudicates due process violations.
  All decisions of Board panels and Administrative Hearing Officers may be appealed. These appeals are made directly to the Parole Board. Also, the Board, at the Governor's request, interviews clemency applicants and makes recommendations to the Governor. The Board delegates its statutory authority to investigate requests to the Division's Executive Clemency Unit.
  http://www.doccs.ny.gov/ParoleBoard.html 
  
  

Wiki wrote:More than a dozen psychologists and psychiatrists studied Chapman in the six months prior to trial—three for the prosecution, six for the defense, and several more on behalf of the court. A battery of standard diagnostic procedures and over 200 hours of clinical interviews were conducted. All six defense experts concluded that Chapman was psychotic; five diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, while the sixth felt his symptoms were more consistent with manic depression. The three prosecution experts declared that his delusions fell short of psychosis, and instead diagnosed various personality disorders. The court-appointed experts concurred with the prosecution's examiners that he was delusional, yet competent to stand trial. In the examinations, Chapman was more cooperative with the prosecution's mental health experts than with those for the defense, possibly (according to one psychiatrist) because he did not wish to be considered "crazy", and persuaded himself that the defense experts only declared him insane because they were hired to do so.

eddie wrote:We are all human 4ever and sometimes we miss things or don't read stuff properly.

magica wrote:Yoko will make sure he is never allowed out. He won't be given a chance until she dies. Personally, he can rot for all I care.

Original Quill wrote:

magica wrote:Yoko will make sure he is never allowed out. He won't be given a chance until she dies. Personally, he can rot for all I care.

Magica, are you Plucky Gold of Hong Kong, who came from Ministry and FF, and was briefly a member of SF?  Cause she had the same avvie as you have, for years.  

If you are, I'm delighted to see you.  Wolf would be, too.

magica wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Magica, are you Plucky Gold of Hong Kong, who came from Ministry and FF, and was briefly a member of SF?  Cause she had the same avvie as you have, for years.  

If you are, I'm delighted to see you.  Wolf would be, too.

Hi Quil, nice to meet you and sorry to disappoint. I've never heard of them, but I had this avatars a long time, just change it every so often.

Original Quill wrote:

magica wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Magica, are you Plucky Gold of Hong Kong, who came from Ministry and FF, and was briefly a member of SF?  Cause she had the same avvie as you have, for years.  

If you are, I'm delighted to see you.  Wolf would be, too.

Hi Quil, nice to meet you and sorry to disappoint. I've never heard of them, but I had this avatars a long time, just change it every so often.

No disappointment, at all.  I'm still delighted to see you.  

Plucky was an Asian woman, Malaysian living in Hong Kong, who traveled with Wolf and I for years, as we've bounced from site to site.  We also toured around with an African-British woman, Mogadishu, whom we loved dearly.

They've drifted away, but I'm always looking on the chance they might cross our paths again sometime.