James Brady's death this week declared a homicide. Does this mean John Hinkley can be retired for murder?

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<<<  Reagan, on the ground facing the camera;  Brady lying next to him with the SS holding Hinkley against the building during the 1981 assassination attempt on the President. 

From the NY Times:  WASHINGTON — The death this week of James S. Brady, the former White House press secretary, has been ruled a homicide 33 years after he was wounded in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, police department officials here said Friday.   Officials said the ruling was made by the medical examiner in Northern Virginia, where Mr. Brady died Monday at 73. The medical examiner’s office would not comment on the cause and manner of Mr. Brady’s death.

Editor’s notes:  This is not a “big deal” to me,  but,  of course,  Brady did not die of a gun shot to the head some 33 years ago.  That is silly.  The fact that this decision might be used to keep John Hinckley in jail,  seems to be the only reason for such a decision.  

If you do not remember,  John Hinkley attempted to kill President Reagan, in 1981,  a murder attempt he thought would impress Jodie Foster.  Brady,  Reagan's press secretary,  was shot in the head,  during this attempt.  Both Reagan and Brady survived,  Brady being the more severely injured of the two men.  In fact,  he never fully recovered from the shooting.   Hinckley claimed “insanity” and was successful in that defense.  He remains in jail and under psychiatrist care,  to this day.    As a side bar to this,  Jodie Foster,  one of my personal favorites,  is lesbian,  and has been such most if not all of her adult life.  

It is the legal opinion of everyone I know [one of my sons is a lawyer] or have read,  that Hinkley cannot be retried,  now,  for murder.  As it turns out,  his successful defense establishes "insanity" as the overwhelming legal cause for his actions, a "final judgment,"  and,  prevents his retrial for any development in this case including the eventual deaths of Reagan and Brady.  

You can read a thorough-going legal opinion on this,  here,  at the Washington Post.  

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