Ronald Reagan's would-be assassin can leave psychiatric hospital

By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jul 2016, 15:54 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 19:52 BST
John Hinckley will be allowed to live full-time in Virginia. Picture: AP Photo/Evan VucciJohn Hinckley will be allowed to live full-time in Virginia. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci
John Hinckley will be allowed to live full-time in Virginia. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

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A JUDGE says the man who attempted to assassinate president Ronald Reagan will be allowed to leave a Washington psychiatric hospital and live full-time in Virginia.

Judge Paul L Friedman ruled that John Hinckley Jr is ready to live in the community.

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His ruling comes more than 35 years after the March 30 1981, shooting outside a Washington hotel in which then-president Reagan and three others were injured.

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Hinckley tried to assassinate President Reagan in 1981. Picture: AP PhotoHinckley tried to assassinate President Reagan in 1981. Picture: AP Photo
Hinckley tried to assassinate President Reagan in 1981. Picture: AP Photo

Doctors have said for years that the now 61-year-old Hinckley, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting, is no longer plagued by the mental illness that drove him to shoot Mr Reagan.

For more than a year he has been allowed to spend 17 days a month at his mother’s Virginia home where he will now live full-time.

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