In Raleigh, a state Senate committee approved a 2-year...

In Raleigh, a state Senate committee approved a 2-year moratorium on executions. On a voice vote with some opposition, the Senate Judiciary I Committee recommended the moratorium until June 1, 2005. The bill's approval came after two death row prisoners were ordered new trials in the past months. In both cases, a trial judge ruled that prosecutors failed to hand over evidence to defense attorneys that may have helped their client. The bill now goes to the full Senate. Moratorium legislation has been introduced over the past several years but never received a committee vote before Tuesday. The bill's primary sponsor is Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange.