'Dog the Bounty Hunter' denied visa to U.K.

• Tweet

LONDON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The U.K. government refused to grant a visa to U.S. reality TV star Duane "Dog" Chapman, citing his involvement in a 1976 murder.

Chapman, who tracks down criminals on his hit show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," was traveling to the United Kingdom to appear on Channel 5's new season of "Celebrity Big Brother" on Wednesday, The Guardian reported.

However, he was denied a visa for his involvement in the murder of Jerry Oliver in Pampa, Texas, in 1976.

Oliver was shot dead by one of Chapman's friends who was attempting to buy marijuana from Oliver at his home. Chapman was waiting in a car outside when his friend fatally shot Oliver.

Chapman was convicted of first-degree murder and served one and a half years of a five-year sentence.

The refusal letter from the U.K. Border Agency says: "Records show that you were convicted of one offense which carried a sentence of five years. According to those records, that conviction is not spent," and added that his visit is not "of a sufficiently compelling nature" to exercise discretionary powers to let him in.

Chapman told The Guardian, "I'd like to see your country and I have a lot of fans there and I'd like to meet them," and that he hopes to cut through the "red tape" and make his scheduled appearance in the Celebrity Big Brother House.