USA - Virginia. The House has given a preliminary approval to legislation that would expand the state's death penalty

The House of Delegates has given a preliminary approval to legislation that would expand the state's death penalty to include people involved in a capital murder who do not actually commit the killing. House Bill 389, sponsored by C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, would redefine the state's so-called "triggerman rule" by making accessories and principals in the second degree eligible for capital punishment if they are determined to have the same intent to kill as the actual killer. Currently, participants in the 2nd degree can only be deemed death-penalty eligible in cases of murder for hire, terrorism or organized crime. A similar measure died in the Senate on Feb. 8 (see) after failing to advance out of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on a 7-7 party line vote. Gilbert's bill, which advanced to final reading today on a voice vote, would need to clear the same committee in order to become law. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Republican, opposes the legislation and has said that it would be tantamount to a "miscarriage of justice."