Hinckley wins unsupervised outings

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr. will be allowed unsupervised visits with his parents, a federal judge in Washington ruled Wednesday.

The visits are subject to a number of conditions: They are to be allowed in the daytime only, Hinckley must remain on his medication, and his parents are to be held responsible for his behavior. Also under the order, neither Hinckley nor his parents are allowed contact with the media.

The federal government has consistently opposed allowing Hinckley to venture outside St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital, where he has been confined since 1982. But hospital psychiatrists claim the visits are part of his treatment.

Hinckley was found innocent by reason of insanity after shooting then-President Ronald Reagan, presidential spokesman James Brady and others in front of the Washington Hilton Hotel in March 1981.