Questions arise about why 'Alina's Law' hasn't been passed

PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania lawmakers are working to pass a bill that some say could have saved Alina Sheykhet's life if it had been in place earlier.

Sheykhet was killed in October of 2017, and on Wednesday her killer, Matthew Darby, accepted a plea deal that will see him spend his life in prison without parole.

Court records show Darby had been served with a protection from abuse order just days before Sheykhet was found dead in her Cable Place apartment.

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SB196, also known as Alina's Law, would "allow judges to require electronic monitoring of people with PFA orders against them.”

Currently, the bill sits in the House Judiciary Committee where it’s been for nearly 10 months after. In December of last year, the state Senate passed the bill with a unanimous vote.

The ACLU has raised issues with the bill, calling it one step below house arrest and restricting of liberties without due process.

Channel 11 checked in with state Sen. Jay Costa who is co-sponsor of the bill. His office said there is "no good reason for the house to sit on it."

Cox Media Group