A medical examiner ruled the death of James Brady, the former White House press secretary, as homicide Friday, thirty-three years after he was shot in the head in the failed assassination bid against then President Ronald Reagan
Brady died Monday at the age of 73. He sustained a brain injury after being shot in the head during the 1981 assassination attempt by John Hinckley in Washington. He was partially paralysed following the incident.
The failed assassination also wounded three others, including President Reagan.
Apart from partial paralysis, Brady also suffered short-term memory impairment, slurred speech and constant pain, reports the Associated Press. Despite, the difficulties Brady became a strong advocate of stricter gun control laws.
Nancy Bull, district administrator for the Virginia medical examiner's office, refused to divulge any further information.
Hinckley, who was charged with attempted assassination of the president and other crimes, was found not guilty by reason of insanity, reports Reuters. He was obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and wanted to impress her. Medical treatment showed that Hinckley had major depression, and psychotic and narcissistic personality disorders.
59-year-old Hinckley's outings from the Washington psychiatric facility have been restricted. He is allowed 17 days a month to visit his mother's hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia.
According to reports, the police, the United States Attorney's Office and the FBI are reviewing the case. This might lead to new charges against Hinckley.
However, Hinckley's attorney believes that the homicide ruling will be of little help for the officials."I think it (the medical examiner's ruling) will mean nothing," attorney Barry Levine told AP. "No prosecutors will bring such a case. The notion that this could be a successful prosecution is far-fetched. There is no legal basis to pursue this."
