John Lennon's killer blames his own father

John Lennon

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- The man who gunned down John Lennon in New York two decades ago says he may have murdered the former Beatle to get back at his own father.

Mark Chapman, 45, has a parole board hearing next week that he hopes will allow him to leave New York State's Attica prison, where he has spent the last 20 years for the murder that stunned the world.

"I think the main problem was that my father never talked about life or problems," Chapman said in an interview published in Britain's Daily Express tabloid on Tuesday.

His father David never told him he loved him, Chapman said.

"And I guess the more I look back on it, I didn't feel any love from him," he said. "Perhaps I was getting him back, killing John Lennon, ruining my life as well."

Chapman shot Lennon on December 8, 1980, after considering killing his father, who worked as a debt collector for a bank.

"I wanted to hold a gun to his head, make him beg. Blow him away. I was really mad at him," he said.

Chapman was sentenced to life in prison but under New York state law is eligible for parole once he has served 20 years.

If he succeeds in winning freedom, Chapman wants to become a father. His wife Gloria has visited him in prison.

Chapman is held apart from the other inmates in Attica because of fears that someone may be tempted to kill him.

He is convinced he is no longer a danger to society.

"I could never dream of hurting another person that way now. It's not going to happen. It's just not going to happen," he said.

Chapman believes Lennon would support his parole bid on October 3.

"I think he would be liberal. I think he would care," Chapman said. "I think he would probably want to see me released."

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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