The New York State Parole Board has denied the application for parole of Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon outside the music legend's apartment 34 years ago. In a statement released by the three-member board, Chapman would not live the rest of his life in accordance with the law if he is granted release. The members cited the fact that his release would be "incompatible with the welfare of society". This has been the eighth time Chapman was denied parole. The decision was made after the Wednesday hearing, the officials from New York corrections stated Friday.  

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"You would not live and remain at liberty without again violating the law," the panel wrote in the ruling handed to the 59-year-old Chapman. In a decision described by Bloomberg to have shown minimal reluctance to deny Chapman's parole, the members further wrote, "You stalked and waited for your victim and thereafter shot him multiple times causing his death". To bolster their decision and emphasize their reasons, the members added, "The victim had displayed kindness to you earlier in the day and your actions have devastated a family and those who loved the victim."

In 2012, Chapman detailed the events of the day leading to the murder of Lennon. He shared that the music icon earlier agreed to autograph an album cover for him. "He was very kind to me," Chapman said in the hearing. After signing the album, he claimed to have attempted to push himself away from Lennon and simply go home to show his wife the autographed cover. However, Chapman claimed to have lost the willpower to do the right thing at the moment and walk away. "But I was so compelled to commit that murder that nothing would have dragged me away from the building," he shared.

Prior to this confession, Chapman shared at a 2010 hearing that he considered shooting Elizabeth Taylor or Johnny Carson instead of Lennon. His decision to choose the ex-Beatle member was rooted from the fact that Lennon's apartment offered more accessibility. Chapman even described that the century-old apartment building near Central Park "wasn't quite as cloistered".

Chapman was convicted for second-degree murder after pleading guilty to firing five gunshots toward Lennon on December 8, 1980 outside the music icon's home in Manhattan's Upper West Side. The ex-Beatle was hit four times in front of Yoko Ono, his wife, and other witnesses. Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

TagsJohn Lennon, Mark David Chapman, parole, Murder, Yoko Ono, Elizabeth Taylor, johnny carson