Judge delays decision on Hinckley visit

A judge yesterday postponed until Wednesday a hearing on whether John Hinckley Jr., who shot President Reagan in 1981, should be allowed to visit his parents without escort on Easter. The government is opposed to the visit. United States District Court Judge Barrington Parker acted after a psychiatrist revealed that Hinckley had corresponded with members of the murderer Charles Manson ``family'' and others.

The delay is designed to allow the prosecutor time to review the letters in preparation for cross examination of the psychiatrist, Dr. Glenn Miller. Dr. Miller testified in favor of the release on grounds that Hinckley had improved dramatically over the past five years and was ``showing himself to be responsible, remorseful.''