John Lennon’s killer’s statement at first parole hearing

The first parole hearing for the man who killed John Lennon, after serving 20 years in prison, has ended with a verdict that he will not be released. He will have the opportunity to apply for parole again every two years.

It is with a profound sense of gravity that we report on the proceedings of the first parole hearing for The Killer, the individual responsible for the tragic and senseless murder of the esteemed John Lennon. The verdict, as many had anticipated, was a denial of release. It has been decreed that the offender shall be afforded the opportunity to reapply for parole biennially.

Following the announcement of the verdict, a most disturbing interview with the parole board, spanning some 50 minutes at a closed hearing at the maximum-security Attica state prison by three parole board members, said Tom Grant, a spokesman for the state Division of Parole.

In this discourse, the perpetrator had the audacity to assert that he no longer posed a threat to society, and went so far as to claim that even Mr John Lennon himself would have sanctioned his release – though he conceded that Mrs Yoko Ono would not.

Read Yoko Ono’s Open Letter

It had been widely surmised that the parole board would not grant release, citing the inevitable distress such an action would cause to the legion of Mr Lennon’s devoted admirers. Over 6,000 people have signed an online petition opposing the release of The Killer.

We shall now recount, with great reluctance, some of the more salient excerpts from the offender’s interview:

Regarding the planning of his heinous act, the killer spoke of his initial journey to New York some months prior to the crime. Despite his resolve, he returned to Hawaii without incident, assuring his wife that all was well. However, he was soon beset by what he described as an “inner voice”, compelling him to return and commit the atrocity. He arrived in New York on the 6th of December, taking lodgings in a hotel, before positioning himself outside the Dakota apartment on the fateful 8th, primed to end Mr John Lennon’s life.

When questioned about his motive, the killer spoke of feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy, erroneously believing that the act of murder would somehow elevate his status. He recounted an incident in a library, where he encountered a photograph of Mr Lennon and was overcome with misplaced anger and resentment.

The killer’s lack of genuine remorse was palpable throughout the interview. When questioned about his pride and desire for attention, he responded in the affirmative without hesitation.

In a particularly disturbing turn, the killer alluded to potential plans to harm other public figures, though the names were mercifully omitted from the published interview. This revelation suggests that Mr Lennon may have been chosen primarily for his accessibility, rather than being the killer’s primary target.

About four hours later, Chapman was given the board’s one-page determination beginning: “Parole is denied.”

The parole board, in their initial statement denying release, astutely observed that the killer’s “most heinous and egregious actions were clearly motivated by a need for recognition”, and noted with concern his apparent intention to perpetuate his infamy.

It is our fervent hope that this individual shall remain incarcerated for the remainder of his days, as a testament to the sanctity of human life and the enduring legacy of John Lennon.

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