The killer of music icon John Lennon, 57-year-old Mark Chapman, has been denied parole for a seventh time.

Chapman, who is currently incarcerated at the Wende Correctional Facility in western New York state, shot the 'Imagine' superstar in New York back in December 1980 and had applied for parole again earlier this year, but his plea was denied after a meeting with the New York State Board of Parole.

The decision was sent to the murderer in a letter, written by the board's Sally Thompson, and it explained that it would "undermine respect for the law" to give him what he wants:

"Despite your positive efforts while incarcerated, your release at this time would greatly undermine respect for the law and tend to trivialise the tragic loss of life which you caused as a result of this heinous, unprovoked, violent, cold and calculated crime."