John Lennon death anniversary: Who murdered The Beatles bandmate and why?

Today marks 41 years since Beatles legend John Lennon was fatally shot outside his apartment in Manhattan – sparking a worldwide outpouring of grief.

Lennon, who was just 40 when he was murdered, produced some of the most iconic pop songs of all times as part of the Beatles, as well as giving the world the likes of Imagine and Jealous Guy during his solo career.

His killer has applied for parole on a number of occasions since being convicted of the murder.

But who did murder Lennon and is he still behind bars?

Who murdered John Lennon?

John Lennon was killed by Mark David Chapman.

The musician had autographed a copy of his album Double Fantasy for Chapman before heading to a recording session with his wife, Yoko Ono.

Chapman shot him in the back four times as he returned home later that evening.

Lennon was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital in New York, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chapman waited for the police at the scene while reading a copy of The Catcher in the Rye, before pleading guilty to second-degree murder against his attorney’s advice. 

He later pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison.

Chapman is said to have started planning the murder three months in advance – and when asked at his most recent parole hearing why he did it, he said it was for ‘self-glory’.

‘I assassinated him, to use your word earlier, 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 explained.

Is Mark Chapman still in jail?

To this day, Mark Chapman remains behind bars at the Wende Correctional Facility in New York, despite having applied for parole 11 times.

His most recent request came in 2020, which was denied ‘on the grounds that it would be incompatible with the welfare of society’.

Chapman’s previous appeal, in 2018, was also denied, with the board telling him that while he was at low risk of reoffending, he ‘admittedly carefully planned and executed the murder of a world-famous person for no reason other than to gain notoriety’.

‘While no one person’s life is any more valuable than another’s life, the fact that you chose someone who was not only a world-renowned person and beloved by millions, regardless of pain and suffering you would cause to his family, friends, and so many others, you demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the pain and suffering of others,’ the board said.

‘This fact remains a concern to this panel.’

 Chapman’s next parole appeal will be in 2022.

At his most recent parole hearing, Chapman apologised to Yoko Ono for the murder, calling it a ‘despicable act’.

I didn’t kill [Lennon] because of his character or the kind of man he was. He was a family man. He was an icon. He was someone that spoke of things that now we can speak of and it’s great,’ he said.

‘I want to add that and emphasise that greatly. It was an extremely selfish act. I’m sorry for the pain that I caused to her [Ono]. I think about it all of the time.’

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