The Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 502 yesterday by a vote of 72-28. The legislation seeks to redefine the "triggerman rule" by allowing accomplices of capital crimes to be sentenced with capital punishment.
Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, introduced the bill in January to ensure accomplices would be held accountable for capital crimes. Under current law, accomplices to capital crimes may not receive capital punishment, which includes either the death penalty or life in prison without chance of parole.
"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," according to Virginia's Legislative Information System.
"The person who does the deed can get life without parole
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