VADP

By Jim Nolan
Published: March 9, 2010

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee yesterday rejected a House version of a bill that would have expanded those eligible for the death penalty to include accomplices and accessories to the murder of a law-enforcement officer.

But it approved an expansion of the death penalty for the murder of fire marshals and auxiliary police officers.

House Bill 502, sponsored by Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, was a narrower version of a previously defeated Senate bill that would have repealed the so-called "triggerman" law. The "triggerman" law stipulates, with limited exceptions, that only the actual killer can be eligible for the death penalty.

Gilbert's bill, defeated 9-6, would have applied only to law-enforcement officers.

By DENA POTTER

Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Bills to dramatically expand the number of crimes that qualify for the death penalty in Virginia were blocked Monday by a state Senate committee that traditionally passes such measures.

The only measure to pass the Senate Courts of Justice Committee was one expanding the death penalty to those who kill on-duty auxiliary police officers.

Other bills to allow executing murder accomplices and those who kill a variety of first responders were rejected by the panel.

The vote on the accomplice measure was the first time in four years that the committee rejected a proposal to redefine Virginia's triggerman rule, which allows only the person who does the actual killing to receive the death penalty.

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