Video: 'Crimes of the Century - John Lennon Assassination - S01E02 | Full Documentary | True Crime' (Lennon's killer sentenced at 35:25)

(Monday, August 24, 1981; following the Murder of John Lennon) — The killer of John Lennon, who pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting the former Beatle on Dec. 8, 1980, outside of the musician’s apartment building in New York City, was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison.

In pronouncing sentence in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Acting Justice Dennis Edwards Jr. recommended that Lennon’s killer receive psychiatric treatment during his confinement.

The 26-year-old assassin must remain in prison for 20 years before becoming eligible for parole (he would be denied parole eleven times between 2000 and 2020 and remains incarcerated in an Upstate New York prison). The maximum penalty he could have received was 25 years to life.

Nearly all the courtroom’s 120 seats were filled, and the audience was split about equally between reporters and spectators, some of whom wore Lennon memorabilia.

Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, was not present.