John Lennon's killer Mark denied parole

New York (ANI): John Lennon's killer has been denied parole for a fifth time because of the premeditated nature of his killing of the former Beatle on Dec. 8, 1980. A two-member Parole Board panel denied Mark Chapman's plea to be let go, indicating that he had actually planned to kill the legendary musician.

In its decision, the panel cited that Chapman made two Hawaii trips for killing Lennon. And it was in his second visit that he killed Lennon, by firing five shots at the singer as he returned home from a recording session and fatally striking him four times. "Your conduct thus precipitated a horrendously tragic event which has impacted many individuals," The New York Daily News quoted the panel, as writing in its decision.

It added: "Your discretionary release, at this time, would thus not be compatible with the welfare of society at large and would tend to deprecate the seriousness of the instant officense, and undermine respect for the law." While the panel considered Chapman''s clean prison record since 1994 and his "positive institutional adjustment," it said that this wasn"t enough to ignore the fact that he carried out Lennon's murder "with an essentially clear mind."

Currently Chapman is serving a 20-years life sentence in Attica Correctional Facility, and will next be eligible for release in two years.