Witness: Soldier could not keep track of gear

[unhappycamper]

Witness: Soldier could not keep track of gear
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Nov 15, 2008 14:31:05 EST

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A New York National Guard supply sergeant accused of killing his superior officer in Iraq had trouble with his duties of keeping track of military supplies, a witness testified, adding Friday that nearly $1 million in equipment disappeared.

Sgt. 1st Class Lance Geddis testified about $968,000 worth of equipment was lost or unaccounted for and that Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez seemed extremely busy and frustrated as he tried to keep track of hardware.

Martinez has pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder in the deaths of Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern, N.Y., and 1st Lt. Louis E. Allen of Milford, Pa. Prosecutors say he planted and detonated an anti-personnel Claymore mine in the window of the officers’ room on their U.S. military base in 2005.

Earlier witnesses have said Martinez and Esposito had a tense relationship because Esposito thought Martinez’s management of the unit’s supply room was lax.

Martinez, of Troy, N.Y., is the first soldier from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to be accused of killing a direct superior, a crime known as “fragging” during the Vietnam war. He could face the death penalty if convicted.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_martinez_fragging_111508/%2e