John Lennon’s Killer Mark David Chapman Denied Parole Again

Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, has been denied parole. This is the eighth time he has applied for release from prison.

The Associated Press is reporting that the three-member board refused his application, saying that he was still a threat to society. They wrote that, if released, "you would not live and remain at liberty without again violating the law." In addition, they cited the famous story of Lennon autographing Chapman's copy of 'Double Fantasy' hours before the tragedy. "This victim had displayed kindness to you earlier in the day," they wrote. "And your actions have devastated a family and those who loved the victim."

Chapman is serving a 20-years-to-life sentence at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, NY. He was last up for parole in 2012, but was denied on the grounds that releasing him would "trivialize the tragic loss of life which you caused as a result of this heinous, unprovoked, violent, cold and calculated crime."

That decision seemed to suit Chapman at the time. During his hearing with the parole board, he said, "“I’m so bonded that I could probably assure you that, if released, I’d probably stay right where I’m at."

He will be eligible to apply for parole again in 2016.