Ronald Reagan's would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr could be released permanently after 34 years in psychiatric hospital

Prosecutors do not believe he is rehabilitated, despite recovery from psychosis

John Hinckley Jr in 2003 (Reuters)

The man who shot President Ronald Reagan could be released permanently after spending around 34 years in an institution.

John Hinckley Jr, 59, fired at the US leader and three other people in 1981 – allegedly to impress actress Jodie Foster by mimicking the actions of co-star Robert de Niro’s assassin character Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver.

Jurors found the gunman, who was 25 at the time, not guilty on the grounds of insanity. He was admitted for treatment at a psychiatric hospital.

Regan, who died aged 93 from pneumonia and complications from Alzheimer’s disease in 2004, survived the shooting after undergoing emergency surgery.

Ronald Reagan was the last president to be targeted by an assassin

Hinckley spent decades in St Elizabeths hospital in Washington DC. He was allowed to leave on day visits from 2003 before progressing onto short overnight outings to his 89-year-old mother’s home in Williamsburg, Virginia.

From 2013, Hinckley has spent 17 days per month, under a judge’s order, at his mother’s. Court hearings are set to begin on Wednesday to see whether it would be beneficial to allow him more time in Williamsburg, or even to release him permanently.

Doctors said in front of District Judge Paul L. Friedman that Hinckley overcame his psychosis and major depression decades ago, although he still exhibits some traits of an existing narcissistic personality disorder.

Secret service officer Tim McCarthy was shot after throwing himself in front of Ronald Reagan to protect him in 1981 (Reuters)

Psychological testing shows his dangerousness risk is “decidedly low,” his lawyer Barry Levine argued in recent hearings from 2011 and 2013 over his release. Hinckley meets regularly with a psychiatrist and therapist as well as takes on volunteer work.

Prosecutors, however, have opposed Hinckley’s release, arguing that he has a history of deceptiveness, lying and troubling relationships with women – according to Associated Press.

They brought up an incident from July 2011 when Hinckley said he was going to see a fillm but he was found looking at shelves of books about Ronald Reagan in a shop by Secret Service agents who sometimes observe him from afar.

Prosecutor Sarah Chasson said: “Hinckley has not shown himself ready to conduct the hard work of transitioning to a new city.”