Triggerman rule; redefinition thereof. (SB560)

Introduced By

Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Redefinition of the triggerman rule. Redefines the "triggerman rule," which currently provides that only the actual perpetrator of a capital murder is eligible for the death penalty and that accessories and principals in the second degree can be punished only as if guilty of first degree murder. This bill allows principals in the second degree and accessories before the fact to be charged as principals in the first degree in the cases of murder for hire, murder involving a continuing criminal enterprise, and terrorism. This bill allows, in all other cases of capital murder, a principal in the second degree to be tried as a principal in the first degree if he had the same intent to kill as the principal in the first degree. The bill allows an accessory before the fact to be tried as a principal in the first degree if he ordered or directed the willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/09/2008Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 086244288
01/09/2008Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/11/2008Impact statement from VCSC (SB560)
01/14/2008Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
01/15/2008Impact statement from VCSC (SB560)
01/30/2008Reported from Courts of Justice (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2008Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2008Read second time and engrossed
02/05/2008Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 14-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2008Communicated to House
02/12/2008Placed on Calendar
02/12/2008Read first time
02/12/2008Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/14/2008Assigned Courts sub: Mental Health
02/14/2008Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
02/15/2008Reported from Courts of Justice (17-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
02/19/2008Read second time
02/20/2008Passed by for the day
02/21/2008Passed by for the day
02/22/2008Read third time
02/22/2008Passed House (78-Y 17-N)
02/22/2008VOTE: --- PASSAGE (78-Y 17-N)
02/25/2008Enrolled
02/25/2008Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB560ER)
02/25/2008Impact statement from VCSC (SB560ER)
02/25/2008Impact statement from DPB (SB560ER)
02/25/2008Signed by Speaker
02/26/2008Signed by President
03/06/2008G Vetoed by Governor
03/07/2008Motion to pass in enrolled form rejected (24-Y 16-N)
03/07/2008Senate sustained Governor's veto