John Lennon’s Killer Feels “More And More Shame” Each Year in Prison

Mark David Chapman's next opportunity for parole is in 2020.

Lennon killer
In an exclusive ABC News' "20/20" interview, Barbara Walters spoke with Beatle John Lennon's assassin, Mark David Chapman. (Steve Fenn/ABC via Getty Images)
ABC via Getty Images

John Lennon‘s murderer told his parole board this past August that he’s feeling “more and more shame” for his crime with each year he spends in prison.

That’s according to the newly released transcript of Mark David Chapman‘s parole hearing from this past August, The Guardian reported. Chapman gunned down the former Beatle as he walked out of his Manhattan apartment in December of 1980.

“Thirty years ago I couldn’t say I felt shame and I know what shame is now,” Chapman said, according to the transcript released on Thursday. “It’s where you cover your face, you don’t want to, you know, ask for anything.”

The hearing was his 10th at the Wende correctional facility — the Upstate, New York prison where he is serving a 20-years-to-life sentence. His release was denied by the board and he will have to wait until 2020 to make another case for himself.

Chapman said he was “too far in” on his plan to murder Lennon to back out of it, even though he manages to meet the musician earlier that same day and managed to secure an autograph.

“I was too far in,” Chapman told the board. “I do remember having the thought of, ‘Hey, you have got the album now. Look at this, he signed it, just go home.’ But there was no way I was just going to go home.”

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