Chapman made the comments to a New York State parole board in Albany before it denied him release for the fifth time last week, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday. At the hearing, Chapman explained his state of mind before the Dec. 8, 1980, attack in front of Lennon's New York City apartment building, saying he shot the former Beatle in the back without making his presence known.

"I am ashamed," Chapman reportedly said. "I am sorry for what I did. I recognized that that 25-year-old man, I don't think he appreciated the life he was taking, that this was a human being."

The Daily News said Chapman told the board that he had been feeling "like a big nothing" in the weeks before the slaying and focused his anger on Lennon because he thought him a "phony." Seeing Lennon's face by chance on an album cover, he said he took it as a sign.

Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, requested Chapman be denied parole. He is serving a 20 years-to-life sentence, the newspaper said.