On this day in 1981: Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murdering John Lennon.
Chapman shot the former Beatle four times outside his apartment building, in the presence of Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, and others.
Chapman remained at the scene, took out his copy of “The Catcher in the Rye” and read it until the police arrived. In his statement to police, Chapman said, “I’m sure the large part of me is Holden Caulfield, who is the main person in the book. The small part of me must be the Devil.”
At his sentencing, when Chapman was asked if he had anything to say, he rose and read a passage from “The Catcher in the Rye.” The judge ordered that Chapman should receive psychiatric treatment at Attica State Prison. Earlier this month, Chapman was denied parole for a fifth time. The next time Chapman can apply for parole is in August 2010.
