RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Hours of heated debate in the General Assembly continued Tuesday before the House approved a tough-on-crime bill introduced by Republicans, after the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train last month.

The bill named for Zarutska was in the House on Tuesday after being passed in the Senate on Monday evening.

The bill started with mostly bipartisan support, but after a leading Republican Senator, Phil Berger, added an amendment related to the death penalty, Democrats largely backed off their support.

That amendment would allow for alternate execution methods and expedite the death penalty process.

"We’re hearing buzz words: 'kindness, mercy.' Damn sure didn’t show mercy to her when he took her life," said Rep. Brenden Jones (R).

Democrats

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