News

November 18, 2008

Major testifies in court-martial of N.Y. soldier

The Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A major told government prosecutors on Monday that she approached an Army legal officer about the behavior of a New York Army National Guard supply sergeant accused of killing two officers in Iraq.

The testimony from Maj. Linda Thorburn came in the court-martial of Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez, who has pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder in the deaths of Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern, N.Y., and 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Pa.

Thorburn testified that Martinez made a derogatory comment about Esposito that was inappropriate and it prompted her to contact a judge advocate general officer about the behavior.

Under questioning by defense attorneys, Thorburn said Martinez had a professional demeanor when the two interacted during their unit’s mobilization at Fort Drum, N.Y. In one instance, she said she got into the back of a Humvee, but Martinez told her she needed to ride up front because she was an officer and he made room for her.

Thorburn said Esposito had a lot of duties placed upon him, and while she offered to assist him, Esposito handled the issues himself.

Thorburn also told defense attorneys that no command climate survey was done following the deaths, and no crisis management was done after the two officers were killed.

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