Hinckley Wants More Time With Parents

(AP)  John W. Hinckley Jr., who was committed to a mental hospital after trying to assassinate President Reagan 25 years ago, is asking a federal judge to let him spend more time with his family.

Prosecutors oppose the request, saying they need to review Hinckley's medical records.

Hinckley, who said he shot Reagan to impress actress Jodie Foster, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982. He suffered from depression and a psychotic disorder that led to an obsession with Foster.

Last year, a federal judge approved Hinckley's request to leave St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington for seven extended visits with his parents in Virginia. Hinckley is down to his last visit. On Aug. 1 he asked a federal judge to extend that order.

"On each of these trips, Mr. Hinckley has complied fully with all of the conditions of release, and not a single negative occurrence has been reported," defense attorney Barry Levine wrote in a court memo.

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman has not ruled on the request. He scheduled a Nov. 6 hearing.

Last year, Friedman ordered hospital observers to assess the success of each visit to Hinckley's parents. Prosecutors said they have not seen these reports.

Hinckley shot Reagan, press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a Washington policeman in March 1981 as the president emerged from a downtown hotel.

This is a prime example of tax dollers going to waste. who pays for his trips home, and having someone with him for his visits. Hinckly is showing everyone that he is not insane or psychotic, he knows the differance between right or wrong. Do other patients get the same privledges?, is this rewarding someone for doing bad? Other patients parents have to pay to see their offspring good or bad!!..

[emerald19641]

He did the crime, he should do the time. James Brady will never be the same because of what Hinckley did to him, if his parents want to see him they should go the hospital or where ever he is at.

[nightopslisa]

I think he should stay where he is at. If he wants more visits with his parents, let them go to the loony bin and see him. he should have thought about things like that before he tried to assinate President Regan, and shot James Brady.