Posted on 10/17/2006 6:37:13 PM PDT by WestNJersey
The parents of presidential assailant John Hinckley are having health problems, calling into question their ability to supervise their son on his extended visits home, the government says. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman loosened the restrictions on Hinckley, 51, last December, allowing the man who shot President Reagan to leave a mental hospital in Washington, D.C., to spend seven overnight visits, each of several days duration, with his parents in Williamsburg, Va.
At a hearing Monday, Friedman will consider Hinckley's request to continue the visits. The government wants to block any more until a full evidentiary hearing can be held.
"The physical condition of Mr. Hinckley's parents has deteriorated considerably," the government said in court papers filed last month. "Their physical ability to supervise Mr. Hinckley is questionable."
There is "persistent tension within the Hinckley family stemming from this deterioration," the government says. Prosecutors said that was particularly so during Hinckley's most recent visit to his parents' home a few months ago.
"As it currently stands ... Mr. Hinckley will continue visits to his parents' home for an unknown period of time without a review from this court," prosecutors complained in their court papers.
In a court filing, Hinckley's lawyer, Barry Levine, said that St. Elizabeths Hospital is preparing a proposal that would significantly expand Hinckley's visits from the mental facility. Levine did not return a phone call to his office Tuesday about the prosecutors' assertions about the health of Hinckley's parents.
Hinckley said he shot Reagan in 1981 to impress actress Jodie Foster. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. According to testimony at his trial, he was suffering from depression and a psychotic disorder that led to an obsession with Foster.
Why am I supposed to care??
Awwwww. Keep him in jail?
In other words, "We don't want to be responsible for this crazy SOB."
Trust me, being housed at the Dorthea Dix facility at Saint E's in DC sucks worse than any jail.
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