Death of James Brady ruled a homicide

[Jazzy]

Police in Wash., D.C. are investigating the recent death of James Brady, the former White House press secretary who survived a head wound in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, as a homicide.

Brady died Monday at a retirement community in Alexandria, Va. He was 73.

Officials say a medical examiner's office in Virginia ruled the death a homicide and the D.C. Metro Police have opened a murder investigation. This could conceivably lead to murder charges against John Hinckley in the 1981 shooting. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity on multiple charges.

Brady suffered a bullet wound to his head outside the Washington Hilton Hotel on March 30, 1981 in an attempt to assassinate Reagan made by John Hinkley Jr. Reagan nearly died from a chest wound. Three others, including Brady, were struck by bullets from Hinckley's handgun.

Police in Wash., D.C. are investigating the recent death of James Brady, the former White House press secretary who survived a head wound in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, as a homicide.

Brady died Monday at a retirement community in Alexandria, Va. He was 73.

Officials say a medical examiner's office in Virginia ruled the death a homicide and the D.C. Metro Police have opened a murder investigation. This could conceivably lead to murder charges against John Hinckley in the 1981 shooting. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity on multiple charges.

Brady suffered a bullet wound to his head outside the Washington Hilton Hotel on March 30, 1981 in an attempt to assassinate Reagan made by John Hinkley Jr. Reagan nearly died from a chest wound. Three others, including Brady, were struck by bullets from Hinckley's handgun.

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Legal definition of homicide:
The killing of one human being by another human being.
Although the term homicide is sometimes used synonymously with murder.

Question: Reading the definition of homicide, do you think his death should have been ruled a homicide? Why / Why not?

 

[DrLeftover]

If his death is directly attributable to complications from wounds he suffered on that day, the passage of time is irrelevant, a day later, a week later, 30 years later....

It is still a homicide.

 

[TommyTooter]

Right, there is no statute of limitations on murder charges, so if his death is attributed to what Hinckley did, yeah, this should be considered a homicide. But I'm not clear on how a person can live with a head wound from a bullet for 30 years then suddenly die from it. Until I can understand that, then a charge of homicide seems a far reach.

i understand the no statute of limitations part, but i've got the same problem with understanding how they can charge hinkley with the murder 33 years later. plus what makes them think he's any more fit to stand trial now than he was was then. like what's the point here? is there a more complete coroner's report anywhere that more clearly explains the murder finding?

 

[Jazzy]

UPDATE: Federal and D.C. law enforcement officials are investigating James Brady's death as a homicide following a ruling by the Virginia medical examiner, a police spokesman confirmed to The Wire.

An autopsy was conducted and revealed the cause of death to be a gunshot wound and consequences thereof, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The decision means that Hinckley, who now resides in a mental facility in suburban Washington, could face murder charges in federal court, NBC News reported.

Brady was serving as Reagan's press secretary when he was hit by Hinckley's bullets outside the Washington Hilton in 1981. The shooting left him paralyzed on the left side of his body, confining him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.

Hinckley was found not guilty of the shooting by reason of insanity.

 

[Bluezone777]

Wouldn't they have to use the man as he was the day he shot them and not the man he is now as far as mental fitness goes? If so, then what would they get out of this that they didn't get when they originally convicted him of the crimes. It seems to me to be a big waste of time as there is no reason to believe that anyone now would think he was mentally fit to face the charges back in 1981