Gov't opposing Hinckley release

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors in Washington say they oppose a request by the hospital treating John Hinckley Jr. that the would-be presidential assassin be freed.

The government mental hospital went to federal court in July to ask a judge to place Hinckley on "convalescent leave" so he can live with or near his 85-year-old mother Jo Ann Hinckley in Williamsburg, Va., CNN reports.

However, federal prosecutors said in a court filing Friday that Hinckley is still "a man capable of great violence" and should not be given his freedom.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman is to hold a hearing on the matter beginning Nov. 28, CNN said.

Hinckley, now 56, has been held at St. Elizabeths Hospital since 1982 after a jury found him innocent by reason of insanity in the 1981 wounding of President Reagan and three others.

In the last couple of years, Hinckley has been allowed to visit his mother for periods of up to a week or so. He carries a GPS device to track his whereabouts when away from the hospital.

The hospital now wants Hinckley to be allowed eight longer visits up to 24 days each, after which he would be placed on leave "without any further review" by the court.