Senate kills bill to extend death penalty to home invasion cases

"The Senate voted 14-10 today to send back for more detailed study a bill to apply the death penalty in home invasion murder cases.

The bill was a response to the October murder of Kimberly Cates and the machete attack on her 11-year-old daughter in their Mont Vernon home.

Democrats turned back Republican efforts to pass the bill, SB 472, on a straight party-line vote to study it through the summer. The move effectively kills the bill for this legislative session."

-Union Leader