Mark David Chapman, an American criminal who murdered John Lennon, outside Lennon’s apartment at the Dakota, in Manhattan, on December 8, 1980, has apologized to the late Beatle’s widow, Yoko Ono, during his 11th hearing for parole; however, the parole has been denied.

Chapman told the parole board at the Wende Correctional Facility in New York :

“I just want to reiterate that I’m sorry for my crime…. I have no excuse. This was for self-glory. I think it’s the worst crime that there could be to do something to someone that’s innocent. He was extremely famous. I didn’t kill him 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.”

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.

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.

He went on to say that he deserved the death penalty “When you knowingly plot someone’s murder and know it’s wrong and you do it for yourself, that’s a death penalty right there in my opinion,” said Chapman.

“Some people disagree with me, but everybody gets a second chance now.”

Asked if justice had been served, Chapman said: “I deserve zero, nothing.” “If the law and you choose to leave me in here for the rest of my life, I have no complaint whatsoever.”

The latest hearing documents, obtained by the Press Association, show the board rejected his release on the grounds it “would be incompatible with the welfare of society”.

Chapman was 25 at the time of the crime. Now 65, he is married and his wife lives near the facility where he has been for the last eight years.

What did the parole board say

In its decision, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision board said it found Chapman’s statement that “infamy brings you glory” disturbing, and recommended his “personal growth and productive use of time”.

The board also noted how Chapman’s “selfish actions stole the chance for future fans to experience the words of inspiration that this artist provided for millions of people”.

“Your violent act caused devastation to not only family and former band members, but the world,” it added.

Chapman is next eligible for parole in two years.

Know The Background: Murder of John Lennon Explained

“Sadak-2” trailer is breaking a record of “Most Disliked Video” in YouTube with already 6.3 million dislikes in last 24 hours.

Why so?

In one word, retaliation.

Well, the fact is it’s the movie directed by Mahesh Bhatt, the old man who has been in news since the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput for alleged “friendship” with Rhea Chakraborty, Sushan’t gf then, and speculations surrounding it. It could be one of the reasons why the movie is getting so much of hate from SSR’s fans.

But the most important reason could be expression of voice against nepotism in Bollywood. Several comments on the trailer had people saying this was a “Tribute to SSR” and a way to fight the nepotism in the industry as the lead actors are star kids.

The movie starring Sanjay Dutt, Pooja Bhatt, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Jisshu Sengupta, all star kids, who fans believe got the roles and opportunities because of nepotism…could be the strong reason to press the dislike button for the video.

How the fight against nepotism got this intense

Sushant Rajput, a Bollywood actor died from suicide, was an engineering student who grew up in the northern state of Bihar, who managed to force open the doors of Bollywood to craft a brief but successful acting career. Replying to an Instagram post last year, he had asked his fans to watch his films because he needed their help to “survive in Bollywood.” To escalate the debate, Kangana Ranaut, Queen of Bollywood, has accused the powerful Bollywood studio owners, influential filmmakers and movie critics of pushing Rajput over the edge by their alleged lack of support for the actor.

“Movie mafia not only banned him, but I can tell you how his mind was systematically dismantled, bit by bit,” Ranaut said in a widely viewed Instagram video.

Many believe that SSR’s suicide is somehow related to bully and nepotism that exists in Bollywood and since then, people both from the industry and outside the industry are voicing against the nepotism.

Looks like, internet is making it easy for general public to express how they are feeling by negatively responding to any work or post from Bollywood.

In one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions, 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, destroyed part of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday. The massive blast at Beirut port killed at least 100 people and injured nearly 4,000. 

What triggered the explosion?

The ammonium nitrate had reportedly been in a warehouse in Beirut port for six years after it was unloaded from a ship impounded in 2013.

The head of Beirut port and the head of the customs authority both told local media that they had written to the judiciary several times asking that the chemical be exported or sold on to ensure port safety.

Port General Manager Hassan Koraytem told OTV that they had been aware that the material was dangerous when a court first ordered it stored in the warehouse, “but not to this degree”.

What is ammonium nitrate

1. Common industrial chemical used mainly as fertiliser in agriculture
2. Also one of the main components in explosives used in mining
3. Not explosive on its own, ignites only under the right circumstances
4. When it explodes, it can release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas
5. Strict rules on how to store it safely: site has to be fire-proofed, and not have any drains, pipes or other channels in which ammonium nitrate could build up.