John Lennon (L) and his wife Yoko Ono. (File Photo)

Mark Chapman,Dec. 2003 (Photo: CNN.com)

    BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The man who killed John Lennon 24 years ago has been denied parole for the third time on Tuesday in New York before Lennon's 64th birthday (Oct.9).

    Mark David Chapman, 49, was notified of the decision after appearing before a three-member panel. The parole board made their decision because of the "the extreme malicious intent" Chapman showed when he shot Lennon.

    According to CNN's report, Yoko Ono, Lennon's widow, submitted a letter requesting that parole be denied. Ono said that if Chapman were released, "myself and John's two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our lives -- people who are in positions of high visibility and outspokenness such as John would also feel unsafe." Lennon's murder "managed to change my whole life, devastate his sons, and bring deep sorrow and fear to the world," the letter says.

    An online petition organized by Lennon's fans has gathered more than 3,000 signatures to oppose Chapman's parole.

    Chapman shot and killed John Lennon, Beatles' key figure, in December of 1980. He is serving a prison sentence of 20 years to life at the Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York, and had been denied parole twice previously, in 2000 and 2002. Chapman's fourth chance to ask for freedom will be two years later.

(Agencies)