Judge lets Reagan assailant make out-of-town visits

By Joanne Morrison

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – John Hinckley Jr., who tried to
assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, will be allowed to
make seven overnight visits to his parents’ home outside of the
Washington area.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman on Friday approved part
of a proposal by St. Elizabeths Hospital — where Hinckley
resides and is treated — for a series of three- and four-day
visits to his parents’ house in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The court’s ruling comes two years after the judge approved
local visits away from the hospital with his parents.

“One would hope that in the upcoming visits to his parents’
home, Mr. Hinckley will have the opportunity to begin to
develop normal, healthy and appropriate friendships with both
men and women that will withstand the scrutiny necessarily
given to them by the psychiatrists and psychologists treating
him,” Friedman wrote in his opinion.

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the
shooting of Reagan and three other people. He was sent to the
hospital in 1982 and has been diagnosed with major depression,
psychotic and narcissistic personality disorders.

The judge put a series of conditions on Hinckley’s
out-of-town visits, ruling Hinckley, 50, cannot leave his
parents’ supervision, that they must make telephone contact
with the hospital at least once a day during each outing and
that he have no contact with his former girlfriend, Leslie
DeVeau.

“The government argued strenuously that it was not certain
how Mr. Hinckley was handling the end of his romantic
relationship with Ms. DeVeau and that his potentially adverse
reaction was a major risk factor in a relapse of his mental
illnesses,” Friedman wrote.

Hinckley will be allowed three initial three-day visits to
his parents’ home, with the success of each outing assessed by
the hospital before a subsequent visit is allowed. The hospital
can then permit up to four visits lasting four days.

The judge warned that if there were any signs of
deterioration in Hinckley’s mental condition, he would be
returned to the hospital. And if Hinckley doesn’t abide by the
court’s conditions, his parent-supervised trips will stop, the
judge said.