John Lennon killer denied parole

5:54 AM PDT 9/8/2010 by Lindsay Powers, AP

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Widow Yoko Ono says she's "very pleased" with decision

John Lennon's killer, David Chapman, was denied parole for the sixth time Tuesday.

Chapman stalked the Beatle for three days before shooting him outside his New York City apartment nearly 30 years ago. He was sentenced to 20 years to life behind bars.

A three-person parole board told Chapman via videoconference that they made their decision because his "premeditated senseless and selfish act of tragic consequence" makes his release "inappropriate at this time and incompatible with the welfare of the community," according to the New York Daily News.

"Releasing him would would so deprecate the seriousness of [the] crime as to undermine respect for the law," the panel said.

The state Parole Division received 75 letters against Chapman's release (including one from Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono), and just one in favor, agency spokesman Marc Violette said.

Ono said through her lawyer, Peter Shukat, that she "was very pleased" with the decision to keep Chapman behind bars.