John Lennon's killer denied parole again

Mark David Chapman, the killer of former Beatle John Lennon, has been denied release from jail by New York's parole board.

John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, has been denied release from jail by a parole board. Source: AAP

Mark David Chapman, who shot and killed former Beatle John Lennon in 1980, has appeared before New York's parole board to be told he will not be released.

A denial decision obtained by The Associated Press says Chapman was told his release "would be incompatible with the welfare and safety of society."

2015: A vigil marking the 35th anniversary of John Lennon's death at the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park. Source: AAP

The 63-year-old Chapman is serving 20-years-to-life in the Wende Correctional Facility in western New York.

He shot and killed the former Beatle outside Lennon's Manhattan apartment on December 8, 1980.

In its decision, the state Board of Parole said releasing Chapman would not only "tend to mitigate the seriousness of your crime," but also would endanger public safety because someone might try to harm him out of anger or revenge or to gain notoriety.

Chapman will be up for parole again in August 2020.