WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A federal judge has approved John W. Hinckley Jr.'s request to leave a Washington, D.C., hospital for overnight visits to his parents' home in Virginia.
It is the first time that Hinckley will be permitted unsupervised leaves outside of Washington, D.C., since 1982 -- when he was sent to St. Elizabeths Hospital after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity for his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
Hinckley, 50, shot Reagan, press secretary James Brady and two law enforcement officers in March 1981.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman said Hinckley may make three three-night visits to his parents' home in Williamsburg, the Washington Post reported. Hinckley could be permitted four more visits of four nights each after hospital officials evaluate the three-day outings.
Hinckley's attorneys hope the visits will lead to his outright release.
"John is going home," said Barry Wm. Levine, the Hinckleys' attorney. "His fate is in his own hands."
The judge said the hospital would be required to submit an itinerary at least two weeks before the visits, and the Secret Service will monitor Hinckley, as it has in recent years when he left the hospital.
