Bill would add home invasion to death penalty law

As he promised he would, House Speaker William O'Brien has filed legislation that would a homicide during a home invasion to the criteria for the death penalty.

O'Brien, a Republican, is from Mount Vernon, where a home invasion in 2009 killed Kimberly Cates, 42, and left her daughter Jaimie severely injured.

One person has been convicted of that murder and has been sentenced to life in prison. Other trials are pending.

O'Brien said he will name the bill the Kimberly Cates Bill.

Read the details here in a Union Leader story.

Meanwhile, Gov. John Lynch has said he supports expansion of the death penalty bill to include other factors.

"It has to be done very thoughtfully and very carefully, and it needs to involve discussions with law enforcement, the Legislature, advocates," he said to WMUR. "But I would support the expansion of some murders that occur during home invasions."