Mark Chapman: John Lennon Murder Was A 'Horrible Decision'

John Lennon’s killer Mark Chapman has admitted that murdering the Beatle was a “horrible decision”.

Chapman, 55, who shot the singer in New York in 1980, made the confession during a video interview with the city's parole board.

He was denied parole for a sixth time last week, but a transcript of his interview has been made public.

In it he claimed that he thought by killing The Beatles star he would become a somebody.

"I wasn't thinking clearly," Chapman said. "I made a horrible decision to end another human being's life, for reasons of selfishness.

"I felt that by killing John Lennon I would become somebody and instead of that I became a murderer and murderers are not somebodies.”

He also revealed that Lennon was top of a list of people that he wanted to kill that also included actress Elizabeth Taylor.

He also said he had turned to Jesus in jail. “Without him I am nothing, I would have been an even bigger nobody,” he added.

Lennon would have turned 70 next month.

His widow Yoko Ono has organised a host of celebrations, including a special gig in New York and two in Los Angeles.