The man imprisoned for killing John Lennon has apologised for being "an idiot" in his pursuit of notoriety nearly 34 years ago.

In a transcript from a parole hearing last week, Mark David Chapman said he still gets letters about the pain he caused by murdering the ex-Beatle in 1980.

"I am sorry for causing that type of pain. I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory," he said at his eighth parole board hearing.

In again denying his release, the three-member panel said it would "so deprecate the serious nature of the crime as to undermine respect for the law".

Chapman (59) fired five shots on December 8th outside the Dakota apartment house where Lennon lived on Manhattan's Upper West Side, striking him four times.

After pleading guilty to second-degree murder, Chapman was sentenced in 1981 to 20 years to life in prison.

Last week, he told the parole board members that he would understand if they denied him release based solely on the number of people he hurt.

"Many, many people loved him. He was a great and talented man and they are still hurting," Chapman said.

"I get letters so that's a major factor. It's not a regular crime."

Chapman, who is at the Wende Correctional Facility, east of Buffalo, can try again for release in two years.