The widow of John Lennon is suing his former aide for speaking on her.
Yoko Ono, 87, has accused former aide Frederic Seaman of violating a court order–which was issued in 2002, by discussing the Beatles legend during a 23-minute interview last month. Seaman was “flanked by Lennon memorabilia” and discussed other topics that he was legally banned from discussing per the 2002 order.
Yoko says her husband’s former’s personal assistant and driver also mentioned his intent to revise and reissue a longer version of his 1991 tome, “The Last Days of John Lennon”—a move she says will “willfully and intentionally violate” the 18-year-old injunction.
In 1983, Frederic pleaded guilty to stealing Lennon’s journals, Ono took him to court in the late 1990s. The 2002 order also prohibited him from using Lennon’s family photos and other items for monetary gain. According to the Times Herald, during court proceedings, he apologized to Ono.
Ono is seeking $150,000, plus other damages for copyright infringement over the use of family pictures and the breach of the contract. Ono, once again, requests that Seaman stop talking about her family.
Last month, Ono also received an apology from Lennon’s killer Mark David Chapman during his parole hearing, as his chance of parole was denied for the 11th time.
Transcripts of that hearing recorded his apology.” I knew it was wrong, and I did it for glory. One word, just glory. That’s it. It was that he was famous, extremely famous. That’s why he was at the top of the list. I deserve the death penalty. I think that says it all. I’m sorry for the pain that I caused to her (Yoko),” he said. Chapman was convicted of killing Lennon outside his apartment in Manhattan 40 years ago.
Chapman said during his time in prison, he has since found the lord, and if released, he wants to “continue to tell people about the lord.” His next chance at parole will be in two years.
His original sentence was 20 years to life.
