'I met John Lennon's aunt shortly after his death - here's what she told me'
John Lennon was just 40-years-old when he was murdered outside the Dakota in New York City.
The Beatles' singer-songwriter was shot twice in the back and twice in the shoulder by Mark David Chapman as he returned to the building with Yoko Ono following a recording session. John was rushed to hospital, but was sadly pronounced dead on arrival.
In the months that followed his death, Beatles expert David Stark met with John's aunt, Mimi Smith. John lived with his aunt for most of his childhood and the pair remained close throughout his life, with John even calling Mimi every week until his death.
Recalling his meeting with Mimi, Stark exclusively told The Mirror US, "I really got on with her." He explained how they'd been introduced by a mutual friend who was visiting Mimi at the time. Stark said, "This American girl said, 'Come down and meet Mimi and maybe try and cheer her up', because that was in the summer of '81 and John being killed in December 1980s."
The Beatles expert explained how he had never met Mimi before traveling to meet her for a weekend in 1981. "I didn't stay with her, but I was in the bungalow over the weekend and just chatting," he explained.
Stark continued, "I just think it was like therapy for her just to talk really. And she kind of came out of herself a bit."
Source: themirror.com/Scarlett O'Toole
