Defense witnesses testify in fragging case

[unhappycamper]

Defense witnesses testify in fragging case
By Marlon A. Walker - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 12, 2008 20:35:18 EST

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A sergeant testified Wednesday that a New York soldier on trial for murder was awkward and didn’t pay attention to detail, flaws his defense attorney said show he couldn’t have carried out a bombing that targeted his superior officer.

Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez testified during the court-martial that Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez “wasn’t the kind of man you’d put in a three-piece suit and have walk across the room.” When defense attorney Maj. John Gregory asked whether Martinez could focus on details, Rodriguez answered: “Not too well. No sir.”

Martinez, 41, a New York Army National Guard soldier, has pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder in the deaths of Capt. Phillip Esposito, 30, of Suffern, N.Y., and 1st Lt. Louis E. Allen of Milford, Pa.

Both men were killed when an anti-personnel mine detonated in the window of their room at Saddam Hussein’s Water Palace in Tikrit in 2005. Prosecutors allege Martinez planted the mine.

James Bennett, a noncommissioned officer, testified the blast “shook everything.” He said the smoke was so thick he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_martinez_111208/%2e