USA - New Hampshire. Gov. John Lynch signed HB 147 expanding the state's death penalty to cover burglaries.

Gov. John Lynch, 59, white, Democratic, signed HB 147 today expanding the state's death penalty to cover burglaries. "I believe strongly that there are some crimes so heinous that the death penalty is warranted. As a state, we've used our death penalty statute judiciously and cautiously, as is appropriate. But there are some horrific crimes that are not currently covered under our capital murder statute," Lynch said in a statement. House Speaker William O'Brien sponsored the bill and named it after Kimberly Cates, a woman who was hacked to death in her bed and her 11-year-old daughter was maimed in the Oct. 4, 2009, home invasion. Cates' husband, David, was present in Lynch's office. Cates testified in support of the bill though he said he wasn't seeking vengeance since the law change wouldn't apply in his wife's case. The new law takes effect on July 1, and allows capital punishment for killings committed during burglaries of occupied buildings. (see also June 2 and 8).