| Rich. Times Dispatch - Most Va. death penalty expansion bills rejected |
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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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