A significant overhaul of the criminal justice system, named after Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian refugee tragically murdered on a light rail in Charlotte, has been officially enacted into law by North Carolina’s governor, increasing the likelihood that her alleged assailant could be sentenced to death by firing squad.
House Bill 307 — referred to as “Iryna’s Law” — received overwhelming bipartisan support in the state legislature, where Republicans are in control. The bill was subsequently approved by Democratic Governor Josh Stein on Friday.
The legislation includes a provision that could permit North Carolina to resume capital punishment, including executions by firing squad. Currently, lethal injection is the sole method of execution permitted in the state.
This legislation seeks to bypass legal challenges that have stalled executions in the state since 2006, as reported by WTVD.
Additionally, the bill mandates that death penalty appeals must be addressed within two years of filing. North Carolina currently has 122 inmates on death row, according to WCNC.
These extensive reforms will also lead to specific violent offenders being denied cashless bail while restricting a judge’s authority over pretrial release and imposing more mental health evaluations on defendants.
Such evaluations may become compulsory if a defendant charged with a violent crime has undergone involuntary commitment within the past three years, as noted by the Death Penalty Information Center.
DeCarlos Brown Jr., the individual suspected in Zarutska’s murder, has a history of multiple arrests prior to the tragic stabbing in August, with his most recent release being under cashless bail.
The alleged murderer reportedly struggled with mental health issues, resulting in prior hospitalizations, according to law enforcement officials.
Facing both federal and state prosecutions, Brown could potentially receive the death penalty if found guilty.
“House Bill 307, or ‘Iryna’s Law,’ emphasizes the need for the judiciary to carefully consider individuals who may present an extraordinary risk of violence during bail determinations. This is a positive step, which is why I signed it into law,” Governor Stein stated in a video announcement regarding the legislation.
Although he previously expressed concerns regarding the amendment allowing the firing squad method, the Democratic governor, who has served as North Carolina’s attorney general, ultimately endorsed the measure.
Republican officials stood by the firing squad provision.
“The concept of capital punishment by firing squad is not unprecedented. There are numerous debates surrounding lethal injections compared to gas chambers. While science evolves, the reliability of firing squads has remained constant,” remarked New Hanover County Republican Chairman John Hinnant, as reported by WECT.
“It’s essential that the consequences and penalties be tangible. People must understand that they will face real repercussions. While this practice is historic, it is recognized as an effective deterrent.”
Despite endorsing the law, Stein made it clear that “there will be no firing squads in North Carolina as long as I am governor.”
His tenure is set to conclude in January 2029.
