Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> StandDown Texas Project

Criminal Law

: StandDown Texas Project

Legislation in Virginia

By standdown

Watching state legislators in the Richmond, the Washington Post reports, "Senate Votes to Eliminate 'Triggerman' Rule." The Virginia Senate voted 24 to 14 yesterday to eliminate the "triggerman" rule, which says that only a person who pulls the trigger in a capital murder case is eligible for the death penalty. The bill, introduced by Sen. Mark D. Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), would allow the death penalty to apply to accomplices. A similar bill was passed last year by the Senate and House of Delegates, but it was vetoed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who has indicated that he would do so again. Kaine opposes capital punishment on moral grounds but enforces the death penalty in capital cases. The bill grew out of the 2002 Washington area sniper case, in which two men fatally shot 10 people...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on February 06, 2008 (boomark / email).