Lennon's cousin objects to TV film
Wed 7 Dec 2005
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2366862005The oldest surviving relative of former Beatle John Lennon has condemned a television documentary about his killer.
Stanley Parkes, Lennon's cousin, said the programme, which will be aired on the 25th anniversary of his death, glorified a killer.
M*** C****** shot the rock star in New York on December 8, 1980 after having the former Beatle autograph an album.
Channel 4's 'I Killed John Lennon' features tape recordings of C****** taken in the early 1990s by his biographer, Jack Jones.
Mr Parkes, 72, a retired motor engineer, who lives in the Ayrshire seaside town of Largs, said his family had not been consulted about the programme. He said the decision to air the tapes added to his family's distress. "I think it's absolutely horrendous. It's very upsetting for us as a family but we have no way of stopping it.", he said.
"Channel 4 are glorifying a killer. C****** is a total nutcase and he's never to my knowledge shown any remorse for killing John. He shot John to make himself notorious and Channel 4 are simply feeding his craving for fame.", he added.
The memory of hearing about Lennon's death on the radio news at the Highland croft in Durness where he used to share his childhood holidays with the rock star, remained etched in his mind, he said.
"I still remember the horror of turning on the radio and hearing John had been shot dead. The anniversary of John's death is bad enough without this programme as well." he continued.
The killer, interviewed in New York's Attica state prison where he is currently serving a 20-year-to-life sentence for the murder, said he had hoped his "identity would be found" by shooting Lennon, who was just 40 when he died. The 50-year-old was refused parole for a third time last year but may seek a new parole review in 2006.
A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: "The programme is very much a serious documentary and has been handled accordingly. The programme looks into C******'s psychology. It is about the mind of a murderer rather than about John Lennon. Neither M*** C****** nor his family have received payment."
