North Carolina lawmaker defends bail system after homicide on Charlotte prepare

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

A North Carolina state consultant is beneath fireplace for saying there may be "no correlation" between the homicide of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee from Ukraine, and the truth that her accused killer had been launched from jail 14 occasions.

State Rep. Marcia Morey, a longtime Democratic lawmaker and former choose, made the feedback whereas defending the state’s bail system. Critics argue the system has allowed violent offenders to cycle out and in of custody with little accountability.

Decarlos Brown has been described by authorities as a dangerous career criminal who was repeatedly out and in of jail earlier than he allegedly stabbed Zarutska to demise on a lightweight rail prepare in Charlotte. Many imagine a damaged bail system allowed him to stay free regardless of his violent document.

CHARLOTTE LIGHT-RAIL STABBING MURDER SPURS LANDMARK CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM FROM NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS

Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska, who was killed on a prepare in Charlotte, and North Carolina State Rep. Marcia Morey (D). (GoFundMe; AP Photograph/Chris Seward)

Morey, considered one of North Carolina’s most vocal advocates for bail reform, defended her feedback and went on to sentence efforts to attach the case to bail insurance policies.

"However don’t correlate what occurred in January and a Justice of the Peace who set a bail in line with tips to what occurred in August. There isn't any correlation," she mentioned throughout a legislative session.

Her argument has been countered by many lawmakers, who declare the tragedy exhibits precisely why it’s harmful to permit repeat offenders again on the road.

NORTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS PASS 'IRYNA'S LAW' TO ELIMINATE CASHLESS BAIL AFTER CHARLOTTE TRAIN STABBING

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/09/672/378/split-image-decarlos-brown-mug-shot-charlotte-train.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/09/1344/756/split-image-decarlos-brown-mug-shot-charlotte-train.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/09/931/523/split-image-decarlos-brown-mug-shot-charlotte-train.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/09/1862/1046/split-image-decarlos-brown-mug-shot-charlotte-train.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> L-R: A mugshot of Decarlos Brown; Surveillance footage exhibiting Brown on the sunshine rail prepare. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Workplace; CATS)

Republican Senate Chief Phil Berger argued that bail reform measures designed to maintain extra defendants out of jail whereas awaiting trial are endangering public security.

"Iryna ought to nonetheless be alive. She ought to be thriving and having fun with time along with her household and mates," Berger mentioned. "We can not let North Carolina be held hostage by woke, weak-on-crime policies and court docket officers who prioritize criminals over justice for victims. We're additionally taking steps to revive the demise penalty for individuals who commit probably the most heinous crimes."

Iryna Zarutsk fled Ukraine for the U.S. and was murdered on the Charlotte mild rail prepare on her approach house from work. (@lucaveros225/Instagram)