The wife of John Lennon's assassin Mark Chapman reveals he TOLD her he would kill the Beatle two months before murder that shocked the world

• Gloria Hiroko Chapman said husband said he wanted to 'make name for himself'
• Says the killer did not carry out his threat at the time due to his feelings for her 
• Was happy about him travelling to New York as he said he needed to be alone
• But said when she heard news of murder on December 8, 1980, knew it was him
• Gloria still with husband and can have sex with him in prison visits, she claims
• Chapman could be released in 10th parole hearing after 38 years behind bars 

The wife of John Lennon's killer Mark Chapman has revealed he told her about his plans to kill the Beatle two months before gunning him down in New York.

Gloria Hiroko Chapman, 67, said her husband did not carry out the threat at the time because of his love for her and threw away the gun he was going to use. 

But Gloria admitted when she heard the news of Lennon's murder from her home in Kailua, Hawaii she knew it was her husband who was responsible.

Gloria Hiroko Chapman, 67, (left, on December 10, 1980) said her husband Mark Chapman (right, on May 15, 2012) did not carry out the threat at the time because of his love for her and threw away the gun he was going to use

'I knew it was Mark. How did I know? Two months earlier, Mark had travelled to New York,' she told The Mirror.

'He came home scared, telling me that to make a name for himself he had planned to kill Lennon. But he said my love had saved him.'

Gloria said she was happy for Chapman to return to New York a second time because she believed he was only making the trip to spend some time to 'think about his life'. 

She has decided to stick with Chapman, who may soon be set free after a parole hearing following 38 years behind bars. 

Chapman, 63, was handed 20 years to life for murdering Lennon, 40, on his doorstep in New York on December 8, 1980.

Gloria also claimed she is still allowed to have sex with her husband when she visits him in prison using a caravan on the grounds.

Lennon was shot dead by Chapman on his New York doorstep on December 8, 1980 in a murder that shocked the world