MUMBAI- John Lennon's assassinator has expressed hope that the musician's wife- Yoko Ono, will forgive him for killing the former Beatles member. Mark Chapman, who shot the 'Imagine' singer four times outside his New York residence on 8 December 1980, was handed a sentence of 20 years life-in prison. On several occasions, Chapman has also been denied parole on account of Ono's pleas to keep him locked up.

However, in an interview with the Daily Mail, Chapman's wife- Gloria Chapman revealed that both, she and her husband have written letters to Ono in order to ease Chapman's conscience over Lennon's murder.

In her interview she is quoted as saying, "If Mark could say anything to John and Yoko now, he would say: 'I'm sorry I caused such pain'. He would say: 'I hope you have forgiven me'". "John was a nice person but Mark wasn't thinking about that that day, and put himself first. That was his mistake," she added.

Chapman's wife also stated that the two of them often talk about the Beatles star when she visits him in prison. "We spoke about him during my last visit in October. And we prayed for Yoko... I feel for her. One thing we prayed for is that she finds Jesus Christ in her life and to find forgiveness for Mark. I hope someday I could meet her and express that," she said.

Lennon's shocking murder came after the legendary British band broke up, and sent Beatles fans all over the world into mourning. Recently, former lead singer of the band- Sir Paul McCartney addressed his bandmate's murder, and called Chapman "the jerk of all jerks". To that she responded that Chapman forgave McCartney for his remarks, and suggested that the musician should visit her husband sometime.