Governor Josh Stein signs 'Iryna's Law'; here's a look at the full bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Governor Josh Stein has signed "Iryna's Law," a high-profile crime bill passed last week.
The legislation, named after the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska who was stabbed on a Charlotte light rail, aims to eliminate certain forms of cashless bail and establish stricter pretrial release requirements for violent offenses.
HB 307 initially had bipartisan support but sparked intense debate about Senate Republicans added an amendment that could allow North Carolina to resume executions, including methods other than lethal injection. This provision would bypass judicial blockages that have paused execution in the state since 2006.
The suspect in the deadly attack, Decarlos Brown, 34, is a repeat violent offender with past mental health issues. Brown had been arrested more than a dozen times and was released earlier this year by a magistrate on a misdemeanor count without any bond.
Brown is charged with first-degree murder in state court and a federal count in connection with Zarutska's death. Both crimes can be punishable by the death penalty.
Charlotte leaders announced Friday the new safety measures for the city's light rail system, including increased security patrols and possibly creating a dedicated transit police force.
