When John Lennon’s killer tried to explain why he killed the Beatle [FLASHBACK]

On December 8, 1980, the music world experienced one of its greatest tragedies: John Lennon was murdered at the age of 40 by Mark David Chapman. The coldness when committing the crime was such that the man did not even try to flee after shooting the firearm that took the Beatle’s life: he remained at the scene reading the book The Catcher in the Ryein JD Salingeruntil the cops arrived to arrest him.

Motivations have always been discussed by fans and onlookers. It is widely defended the version that Chapmana born-again Presbyterian, would be upset about the end of Beatles and public statements by Lennonsometimes critical of religions and particularly notorious for having said — even if he later recanted — that the Beatles they were “more popular than Jesus.” But what does the criminal himself say?

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Mark David Chapman’s justification

Although he was sentenced to life imprisonment, Mark David Chapman won in 2000 the right to apply for parole every two years and present their arguments at a hearing to receive the benefit. His attempts were always denied.

In 2020, the BBC had access to the statements of Chapman during the session, held where he is still being held: the prison Wende Correctional Facility, in Alden, New York. On the occasion, he surprised by apologizing to the widow of John Lennon, Yoko Onoand opine that he deserved the death penalty for the crime he committed — although that penalty no longer exists in the US state where he is held.

I just want to reinforce that I am very sorry for my crime. I have no excuses for that. It was for my own glory. I think it was the worst crime that could be committed against someone who is innocent.” Chapman.

“Own glory” by killing John Lennon

Already 65 years old at the time of the hearing, Mark Chapman claimed to have murdered John Lennon not because it was contrary to the artist as a person or what he represented. The idea was simply to gain fame—albeit in an abject way, to say the least.

“I killed him not because of his character or the kind of person he was. He was an icon and a family guy; he was someone who already talked about things that we can now talk about, which is great,” he described Chapman. “I killed him because he was very, very famous. It’s the only reason. I was being very selfish, seeking too much self-glory.”

Finally, the criminal declared that he thought “all the time” about what he did and reinforced that he should have been subjected to the death penalty. “When you intentionally plan someone’s death, knowing it’s wrong, it should carry the death penalty in my opinion. Some people disagree. Everyone gets a second chance now, but I don’t deserve it. If the law and you decide to lock me up here for the rest of my life, I will not complain.”

release always denied

As is to be expected, Mark David Chapman he never even had the chance to get the conditional freedom that, since 2000, he has requested every two years. The justification given by justice in the United States is usually the same: it would be a decision incompatible with the well-being and safety of society and the criminal himself, who could be injured or killed in revenge.

Years ago, Yoko Ono gave a rare statement about the killer’s situation. The artist and widow of John Lennon declared to be against the man’s freedom, as he was afraid of his safety and that of his family.