Loner who shot Reagan "ready to be released"

London Telegraph | 27 August 2003 | Toby Hardin

[annyokie]

Loner who shot Reagan 'ready to be released' By Toby Harnden in Washington (Filed: 27/08/2003)

The loner who shot Ronald Reagan in 1981 is said by his doctors to have been cured of the mental illness that led to his assassination attempt.

John Hinckley, 48, has been confined to secure wards in St Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington for more than 20 years after being found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity, but could soon be released without supervision.

After making several visits, accompanied by psychiatric staff, to bowling alleys, bookshops, cinemas and the beach over the past three years, Hinckley has applied for 10 unsupervised visits to his parents' home in Virginia, including five overnight stays.

In court documents, Hinckley's lawyer, Barry Levine, stated: "It is undisputed that Mr Hinckley's psychosis and depression have been in full remission and that he has shown no symptoms thereof for over a decade.

"Mr Hinckley does not pose a risk of danger to himself or others now or in the reasonable future."

Martha Knisley, Washington's mental health director, agreed that Hinckley's mental disorders were in full remission and said his trips outside had gone well.

"He handled these privileges responsibly," she said in a letter filed with a federal court in preparation for a hearing next week.

"Notably the community outings were without incident and did not result in any problematic recognition of him or incur significant media attention."

Several of Hinckley's day trips around Washington have been with Leslie deVeau, a former patient at St Elizabeth's who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of her 10-year-old daughter, Erin, in 1982.

Court documents said the couple's relationship "has reportedly changed from romantic to platonic". DeVeau, 49, has been released from St Elizabeth's but visits Hinckley every week.

Previous applications for release were withdrawn due to Hinckley's obsession with the actress Jodie Foster. In 1987, he was discovered with 20 photos of Foster, with whom he had become fixated after seeing her in the film Taxi Driver.

He was also found to have corresponded with the serial killer Ted Bundy and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1985.

Prosecutors, who said Hinckley shot Mr Reagan to impress Foster, oppose the leave request. "Because of Mr Hinckley's history of deception and violence, the government objects to Mr Hinckley's motion for limited conditional release."

Hinckley fired six shots outside the Washington Hilton in March 1981 after approaching the presidential entourage.

He wounded Mr Reagan, James Brady, his press secretary, Timothy McCarthy, a secret service officer, and Thomas Delahunty, a police officer.

21 March 2001: Tape shows chaos after Reagan shooting

[annyokie]

Apologize if this is a repost.

[Uncle Hal]

This is hard to believe. Who is next Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan?

[annyokie]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/08/27/whink27.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/08/27/ixworld.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=137120

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Several of Hinckley's day trips around Washington have been with Leslie deVeau, a former patient at St Elizabeth's who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of her 10-year-old daughter, Erin, in 1982

now that sound like a cute couple. I wonder what the secret service will have to say about this?

[TexasNative2000]

"Paging Ms. Foster...... Ms. Foster to the white courtesy phone please."

[johnb838]

Geez, I remember not that many years ago it was reported that he had developed an obsession with one of his doctors who happened to resemble Jodie Foster. I'll bet SHE'S real thrilled about this news.

[Freedom4US]

"Insane" inmates, if deemed "cured"; should be free to serve out their prison term in a regular facility, not released back into society. Lets not forget he killed a police officer, nearly killed the president, and ruined Jim Brady's life.

What a bunch of idiots.

[Delta 21]

I wonder if Mrs. Brady is gonna fight this....or continue to fight only the terrible gun that left her husband a cripple for the rest of his life?


GEEEZ!!!

[annyokie]

This is outrageous, as you all know. As to the "who's next?" question, heck let's let Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme out, too. She served her time and she only tried to kill the President. /sarcasm.

[RepoGirl]

But we can all rest assured, Mark David Chapman will NOT be realeased.

Killing the patron saint of liberalism, John Lennon, will keep him locked up for life.

Hinckly, however, only tried to kill that evil Reagan...heck, he's a hero for the struggle. 20+ years in the klink is enough...

[Nateman]

Hey John, I hear Clinton's been bonking Judy!

[TBall]

Exactly, Jody Foster must be very upset.

[Paladin2b]

Lets not forget he killed a police officer, nearly killed the president, and ruined Jim Brady's life.

Uh, I think that the DC police officer who was shot (Delahanty was his name, if I recall correctly) lived, although he was pretty seriously disabled afterwards. He died several years ago. The USSS agent who was shot, another Irishman, definitely made a full recovery.

[Freedom4US]

Well, OK. Nobody actually died.

Do you think this guy belongs back in society because he's "all better" now?

[johnb838]

heck let's let Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme out, too. She served her time and she only tried to kill the President. /sarcasm.

You think you jest, but they are about to release Kathy Boudin, one of the perpetrators of the great Brinks robbery of 1981, who was convicted of the murders of three (black) cops. She is an ardent communist and known leftist who showed no remorse whatsoever for her crime.

[bicycle thug]

This was posted yesterday;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/970946/posts

[Paladin2b]

Well, OK. Nobody actually died. Do you think this guy belongs back in society because he's "all better" now?

Of course not. Look, if it were up to me this guy wouldn't see anyone but white-coated orderlies with electric cattle prods for the remainder of his life. I just thought that for the record it ought to be pointed that no one was actually killed (miraculously, it seems) in the 1981 attack.

[Held_to_Ransom]

The true measure of power is the ability to pardon. I would think though that Hinkly ought to pay reparations to those he permanently damaged.

Clemenceau was shot after WWI while in charge of the French government. The assassin shot 7 times and hit him only once. On the way to the Hospital, he was informed that his assissin was a French man. Clemenceau was appalled that any Frenchman could not shoot better than that and ordered that the man be ordered to target shoot while in prison.