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 Words in the News
INTRO 
 BBC reporter Jane Hughes reported on how John Lennon's murderer, Mark Chapman, was refused parole. This means he cannot leave prison yet, even after 20 years.
IN FULL 
 AudioListen to the report in full
John Lennon

4th October 2000

Lennon's murderer stays in jail

NEWS 1 
 AudioListen to the first part of the report
  Mark Chapman's application for parole provoked an outcry from John Lennon fans around the world, and prompted Yoko Ono to write an impassioned letter to the board calling for her husband's killer to be kept behind bars. She said for the last 20 years, the memory of his shooting had never left her, and that releasing Chapman would bring back the nightmare, and leave her and Lennon's sons in constant fear for their safety.
  AudioListen to the words
WORDS 
 

parole - when a prisoner is released from jail before the end of their sentence, usually on condition that they behave well

provoked an outcry - made many people very angry

prompted - if you are prompted to do something, something has made you decide to do it

impassioned - with strong emotion

behind bars - in prison

nightmare - a bad experience can be called a nightmare

NEWS 2  AudioListen to the second part of the report
  The parole board said it was turning down his application because Chapman still appeared to relish the notoriety his crime had earned him. It said to free him would be to downplay the seriousness of the murder and to undermine respect for the law. The decision wasn't a great surprise. It's rare for anyone to be granted parole in New York after their first application, let alone someone who killed one of the world's best known and best loved rock musicians. Chapman will continue to be held in isolation for his own protection. He's eligible to reapply for parole in two years' time.
  AudioListen to the words
WORDS  

turning down - if something is turned down it is not allowed or permitted

relish - if you relish something you enjoy it a lot

notoriety - being well known for doing something bad

to downplay - if you downplay something, you make it seem less important

undermine - to make something less strong or secure is to undermine it

in isolation - in a prison cell by yourself

eligible - allowed to do something

  Read about the background in BBC News Online
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