Virginia legislature votes to abolish the death penalty

Washington D.C. - Virginia is expected to become the first southern state to abolish the death penalty, after its general assembly voted on Monday to end the practice. The state senate voted 22 to 16 to approve H.B. 2263, which would abolish the death penalty in the state including for inmates currently on death row. The state house has approved an identical version of the bill by a vote of 57-43. -- More...