FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Military prosecutors argued Wednesday that the first soldier accused of killing a direct superior in Iraq — a crime known as “fragging” — told other soldiers he hoped his company commander would die in action and he wanted to “burn” him.
New York National Guard Staff Sgt. Alberto B. Martinez was frustrated with Capt. Phillip Esposito’s strict oversight of the supply room where Martinez worked, prosecutor Capt. Evan Seamone told jurors during opening arguments of Martinez’s court-martial.
Martinez could be sentenced to death if convicted.
Defense attorney Maj. John Gregory countered that investigators assumed Martinez was guilty after learning of his feud with Esposito. Martinez, 41, of Troy, N.Y., is accused of planting an anti-personnel mine in June 7, 2005, that killed Esposito and another officer.
The Associated Press
