Fetal homicide bill passes in state Senate

House Bill 215, "Unborn Victims of Violence Act," now goes back to the state House for a final vote.

The legislation, which makes clear that it doesn't apply to legal abortions, would find anyone who commits murder, manslaughter or assault against a pregnant woman guilty of the same crimes against the fetus, regardless of whether an attacker knows about the pregnancy.

State law does not recognize the death of a fetus or unborn child as a result of a violent crime as a homicide or separate crime.

If passed, the bill would replace an existing state law that makes injury to a woman that results in a miscarriage or stillbirth an aggravating factor.

That can increase the penalty for a felony.

The bill is also called "Ethen's Law," after the unborn son of Jenna Nielsen, who was eight months pregnant when she was stabbed to death outside a Raleigh convenience store in June 2007.