“John Hinckley is responsible for the shooting of President Reagan and three other fearless men”, read a statement released by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, obtained by ET.
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Judge Paul L. Friedman ordered the release on Wednesday, and the now 61-year-old is set to live with his mother no sooner than August 5.
Friedman’s order imposes almost three dozen conditions, including a requirement that Hinckley meet his psychiatrist at least once a month and notify the Secret Service when he travels for the appointment.
For each visit, the U.S. Secret Service will provide Hinckley’s time of departure from Williamsburg as well as the intended travel route two weeks in advance, the court says.
St. Elizabeths, Hinckley’s home for most of the past 35 years, opened in 1855, the first federally run psychiatric hospital.
A court found Mr. Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity.
Former Reagan press secretary James Brady, one of the people Hinckley, Jr. shot outside the Washington Hilton, was left severely brain damaged following the incident.
Hinckley said he shot Reagan to try to impress Hollywood actor Jodie Foster, an object of his obsession after repeated viewing the film, “Taxi Driver“. He’s previously been allowed to take extended furloughs from the hospital to spend time with his mother in Williamsburg, Va.
“Since 2006, Mr. Hinckley has successfully completed 80 unsupervised visits with his family in Williamsburg, Virginia, fully complying with the court’s strict conditions, with two minor exceptions”, Friedman wrote in his opinion.
MONTAGNE: And that was CBS anchor Dan Rather 35 years ago. A judge has ruled he’s no longer a danger to society. The order by Judge Paul Friedman can not be appealed.
Hinckley’s longtime lawyer, Barry William Levine, argued to the court previous year that his client is entitled to live under the least restrictive conditions in keeping with public safety.
Mr Reagan was shot in the lung, but recovered.
And doctors at this mental hospital say his psychosis and depression are in full remission, have been for years.
Hinckley also followed President Jimmy Carter for years. After that, he can live in a seperate home alone or with roommates provided that members of his treatment team approve.
Hinckley’s lawyer, Barry Wm.
“In some sense, the change from being out 17 days a month and being out 30 days a month is not all that great”, Appelbaum said. “If John Hinckley is haunted by anything, I think it’s that he didn’t succeed in his mission to assassinate the President”.
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The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute also weighed in on the recent ruling on Wednesday.
