Siblings Support Greater Freedom for Hinckley

"He was a comfort to my mother and a comfort to myself," his sister said.

However, the siblings testified, the visits also can be challenging.

In May, Hinckley wanted to bring "Ms. G" to visit Williamsburg to meet his mother on a weekend when he would be attending a block party at the family's home. But doctors did not think that was a good idea, and neither did his brother, Scott Hinckley. They wanted Hinckley to concentrate on meeting neighbors.

"I thought she would be a distraction," Scott Hinckley said. "Ms. G" did not make the trip.

During that visit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Chasson said, Hinckley missed a meeting with the local Salvation Army office about a volunteer job. Acknowledging that he was frustrated by his brother's lack of success at finding a volunteer position, Scott Hinckley said he thought his brother would eventually find a post.

Hinckley's sister also testified about some of the difficulties he has had fitting in with others. After a story about his case appeared in the local paper last month, Hinckley and his sister attended a meeting of a singles' social group. The woman running the meeting told Hinckley and his sister that she did not feel comfortable with them there, Hinckley Sims said.

She said they stayed for part of the meeting and then eventually left because they had brought the wrong food and were younger than most of the group's members.

The siblings, who live in Dallas, said they would step up visits to Williamsburg if necessary. Friedman expressed concern about what will happen when Hinckley's mother, Jo Ann, can no longer handle the visits. She is 82.