John Lennon's killer says he sought glory, deserved death penalty

Mark Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon, has apologised to the late Beatle's widow, Yoko Ono, 40 years after his death. Photo / AP

The man who killed John Lennon in 1980 says he was seeking glory and deserved the death penalty for a "despicable" act.

Mark David Chapman made the comments in response to questions last month from a parole board, which denied him parole for an 11th time.

As in previous parole board hearings, the now 65-year-old inmate expressed remorse for gunning down the former Beatle outside the musician's Manhattan apartment building.

John Lennon, killed December 8th 1980. Photo / Getty Images

"I assassinated him .. because he was very, very, very famous and that's the only reason and I was very, very, very, very much seeking self-glory. Very selfish," Chapman said, according to a transcript released by the state Monday after an open records request.

Looking back 40 years later, Chapman called his actions "creepy" and "despicable." He said he thinks all the time about the pain he inflicted on Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono.

"I just want her to know that she knows her husband like no one else and knows the kind of man he was. I didn't," he said.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono shortly before his death. Photo / Supplied

Chapman shot and killed Lennon on the night of Dec. 8, 1980, as he and Ono were returning to their Upper West Side apartment. Lennon had signed an autograph for Chapman on a copy of his recently released album, "Double Fantasy," earlier that day.

Chapman is serving a 20-years-to-life sentence at Wende Correctional Facility, east of Buffalo. He told the board he would have "no complaint whatsoever" if they chose to leave him in prison for the rest of his life.

"I deserve zero, nothing. At the time I deserved the death penalty. When you knowingly plot someone's murder and know it's wrong and you do it for yourself, that's a death penalty right there, in my opinion," he said.

In denying him parole, the board said Chapman committed an "evil act" and said they found his statement that "infamy brings you glory" disturbing.

Chapman will be up for parole again in August 2022.