USA - Virginia. Senate panel rejects a bill to expand the death penalty.

Senate panel rejects 'triggerman' bill. A sharply divided Senate committee has rejected a bill to expand the death penalty. The Courts of Justice Committee voted 8-7 evening to kill the legislation to redefine Virginia's triggerman rule. Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain has tried for years to repeal the triggerman rule, which allows only the person who does the actual killing to receive the death penalty. When it has advanced, the measure was vetoed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (see March 26, 2006, march 5, 2008 and March 27, 2009). This year's version of the bill would have allowed the death penalty for co-conspirators only in cases where a victim was raped and murdered. The new governor, Bob McDonnell, a republican who took office in Jan. 2010, said he would sign it into law if given the chance.