A new law could see Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska’s killer put to death using an extremely rare method.

Decarlos Brown Jr., who viciously murdered the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee on August 22, may face an unconventional death in the wake of his first-degree murder charge.

Zarutska, who had escaped the war in Ukraine by finding refuge in America, was traveling on the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) when she was brutally stabbed in the neck three times.

Footage of the brutal attack, which led to her tragic death, has since circulated on social media.

The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after witnesses around her made numerous unsuccessful attempts to save her life.

Following the fatal stabbing, it was made known that Brown Jr. had been arrested 14 times before the train attack and will now face the death penalty for his devastating crime.

In the weeks following Zarutska’s death, a criminal justice reform has been introduced in honor of her, which could dictate the means by which Brown Jr. will be executed – and it will be known as ‘Iryna’s Law.’

It will enable the state to bypass legal challenges and enforce the death penalty in this case, despite this means of punishment having been paused in the state since 2006.

It could see Brown Jr. face a firing squad in the coming years, as opposed to a lethal injection, which is currently the only authorised method of execution in North Carolina.

Speaking about the bill on Friday (October 3), Democratic Governor Josh Stein explained: “House Bill 307, or ‘Iryna’s Law,’ alerts the judiciary to take a special look at people who may pose unusual risks of violence before determining their bail.

“That’s a good thing and why I have signed it into law.”

The bill will see dangerous offenders denied bail without cash, affect a judge’s authority in pretrial releases, and require more regular mental health evaluations for defendants.

While the governor supports the general reform, he voiced his disapproval of the firing squad form of execution.

Stein added: “There will be no firing squads in North Carolina during my time as governor.”

Someone in favor of this method is New Hanover County Republican Chairman John Hinnant, who said: “The capital punishment by firing squad is not a new concept.

“There have been so many challenges to medical capital punishment versus the gas chamber.”