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Aug 29, 2014 John Lennon By Cody Ray Shafer

Mark David Chapman was denied parole for the eighth time this week. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the 1980 killing of former Beatle and cultural icon John Lennon.

During the parole hearing, Chapman said he was “sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory.”

Chapman believed assassinating Lennon would bring him notoriety. In December of 1980 he gunned down Lennon in front of his New York City apartment building.

Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, wrote to the parole board in opposition to parole for Chapman citing fear for herself and Lennon’s two sons, as well as possible retribution from Lennon’s legions of fans against Chapman.

The parole board denied his request on the grounds that releasing Chapman would “so deprecate the serious nature of the crime as to undermine respect for the law.”

Lennon was 40 at the time of his death, and had recently returned to recording music after a five year hiatus to raise his son, Sean.