Connecticut set to repeal death penalty

The Connecticut Legislature voted to repeal the state’s death penalty, and Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy has said he will sign the bill into law.

That would make the state the 17th to end capital punishment. The House of Representatives approved the bill 86-62 late Wednesday.

In the past five years, four states abolished the death penalty — New Mexico, Illinois, New Jersey and New York. Repeal proposals are pending in several states, including Kansas and Kentucky.