Attorneys Argue Against Release of Hinckley
The man who tried to kill Ronald Reagan 18 years ago may still pose a threat to the public and should not be allowed day trips away from a mental hospital, a federal prosecutor argued Monday.
John W. Hinckley Jr. recently won court permission for supervised trips away from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital despite federal prosecutors who say Hinckley remains disturbed and unpredictable.
U.S. Atty. Wilma Lewis, the top prosecutor for the District of Columbia, asked a federal appeals court to reconsider its ruling.
“We believe that the potential impact of the opinion on public safety presents an issue of exceptional importance which should be reconsidered,” Lewis and two assistants wrote in court papers.
Hinckley’s doctors support supervised day trips, his lawyer said.
“Every doctor who has seen John in the recent past has said he does not present a risk of danger to the community,” lawyer Barry Levine said Monday.
Hinckley, 43, was acquitted by reason of insanity in the 1981 attack. Reagan, his press secretary James S. Brady and two law enforcement officers were wounded.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
