A psychiatrist treating the man who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981 says John Hinckley wants to start a band, and that he should be allowed to publish his music anonymously.
Hinckley is 59, and has been institutionalized since being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting the president and three other men. On Wednesday, there was a hearing to determine whether he should be allowed to permanently move out of a psychiatric hospital. For 17 days each month since 2013, he has been living at his elderly mom's home in Williamsburg, Virginia. His lawyers and doctors want him to be able to live with his 89-year-old mother full-time now.
“The psychosis and major depression that made Mr. Hinckley dangerous in 1981 have been in full and stable remission for over two full decades,” his attorney, Barry Wm. Levine, told U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman in Washington. “There is no dispute that Mr. Hinckley is clinically ready for the next step in treatment, which is convalescent leave.”
Plus, he wants to start a band. One of Hinckley's interests is music. He sings and plays the guitar, and participates in music therapy. He wants to release his music anonymously.
Dr. Giorgi-Guarnieri testified Friday during court hearings that will ultimately determine whether and under which conditions John Hinckley Jr. will be allowed to live full time outside a mental hospital. Giorgi-Guarnieri says Hinckley should be allowed to start the band but not perform publicly.
And finally, there's this: he's said to be dating. His brother testified at the Wednesday hearing that he "met his current girlfriend at a National Association for the Mentally Ill meeting."
The shooting for which he was convicted was an attempt to win the heart of actress Jodie Foster. Apparently he didn't need to kill anyone to win the heart of whoever his girlfriend is today.
[via Steve Silberman]
