Breaking: Fragging Charge Acquitted

U.S. Soldier Acquitted In “Fragging” Trial

National Guardsman Cleared Of Murder Charges In Deaths Of Two Superior Officers At Iraqi Base

(AP) A soldier was acquitted of murder Thursday in the 2005 bombing deaths of two superiors in Iraq, triggering loud outbursts and gasps from the slain officers’ families.

A military jury found National Guard Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez not guilty of two counts of premeditated murder in the deaths of Capt. Phillip Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis Allen. Both officers were killed when an anti-personnel mine detonated in a window of their room at a U.S. military base in Iraq in June 2005.

 

Really don’t know how breaking this is, I just caught it at the CBS site and it’s a recent post.

Have not seen it elsewhere as yet.

Witnesses had testified that Esposito and Martinez were at odds and clashed regularly because the officer thought Martinez was lax in his operation of the unit’s supply room.

The Army reported hundreds of “fragging” incidents between 1969 and 1971, but only four soldiers have been court-martialed or charged with killing a fellow soldier since the Iraq war began in 2003.

I’m going to have to see some more on this, but in following it the recent reports didn’t look good for the prosecution.

2 comments

    • jimstaro on December 5, 2008 at 17:24
      Author

    Southern Poverty Law Center

    Dec. 5, 2008

    Tune in today at 2 p.m. Eastern – and hear about the recent court victory against the Imperial Klans of America.

    Live Webcast – Imperial Klans of America Lawsuit

    Date: Today, Dec. 5, 2008

    Time: 2 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern

    Participation is free.

    How to participate: Register here to join the webcast. If you have already registered, log in at 2 p.m. Eastern.

    Morris Dees and the SPLC legal team just won a crushing $2.5 million verdict against Ron Edwards, leader of the Imperial Klans of America, and one of his chief lieutenants for the brutal beating of a Kentucky teenager. Our client is an American of Panamanian descent. But to the Klansmen who attacked him, he was nothing more than an “illegal spic.”

    Morris and SPLC President Richard Cohen will discuss the challenges of holding hate groups and their leaders accountable for the actions of their members and the effect our trial strategy has had on the hate movement. They’ll also discuss how the election of Barack Obama and the current economy are creating a perfect storm for white supremacist groups.

    You will have the opportunity to submit questions for Morris and Richard before and during the webcast.

    I just received this.

    • jimstaro on December 5, 2008 at 22:47
      Author

    ‘Fragging’ verdict shows system works

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