Mark Chapman killed the former Beatle in 1980 and is serving a life sentence.
Mark Chapman , the man who killed John Lennon in 1980, appeared before a panel of judges in August of this year, and according to the transcript of his testimony, he "feels more ashamed with each passing year" of what he did.
“More than thirty years ago, when I did what I did, I can’t say I felt ashamed. Now, I know what that is (…) Shame is what makes me want to cover my face every day and makes me not want to ask anything of anyone,” he said, according to the transcript released by the Associated Press this month.
Chapman said that on the day he killed Lennon outside the musician's apartment in New York, he even considered abandoning the act. "I had already gone too far to turn back. I even thought: 'Mark, he signed your record, you have the autograph in your hand, just go home.' There was no way I could simply leave, however," he added.
He further revealed that he was only seeking notoriety and loaded the revolver with more bullets than necessary because "he wanted to be sure he was dead and wouldn't suffer."
After hearing his testimony, the judges decided not to release Chapman due to the severity of his crisis. They also cited that he could commit an act of violence if released, given the notoriety of the crime. He will be eligible to apply for parole again in August 2020.
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