Fragging case in limbo
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- July
- 3
June 23, the date the fragging trial of Alberto Martinez was supposed to start, has gone by with no indication when it may eventually start. Yes, people who have been following the case knew that date wouln’t hold because of excruciating legal manouvering. But none the less it gives reason to pause and remember that more than three years have passed since Capt. Phillip Esposito of Sufffern and 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, PA, were murdered, allegedly by one of their own, and no one has an idea when the case may come to trial.
Two months ago, prosecutors appealed a military court’s ruling that prevented them from using potentially incriminating statements made by the accused, Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez of Troy, when he was first arrested in Tikrit, Iraq, on suspicion of murder. The statements were reportedly made by Martinez to an officer while he was being advised of his rights, but were not recorded.
Prosecutors are yet to hear back from the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, a spokeswoman at Fort Bragg told me. An answer was expected this week, she said, but it hasn’t come. Maybe next week, she said.
Once the court’s ruling comes, more pre-trial hearings will be scheduled. The final trial will still be months away. If we are lucky, that is.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm by Hema Easley. 
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