Plea deal in 'fragging' case shocks victim's family

The parents of an Army officer who was killed in Iraq in a 'fragging' incident were stunned to discovered that the soldier who was acquitted in their son's death last year plead guilty to the killing,

News 12 Staff

May 27, 2014, 9:45 PM

Updated 3,619 days ago

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Plea deal in 'fragging' case shocks victim's family
The parents of an Army officer who was killed in Iraq in a 'fragging' incident were stunned to discovered that the soldier who was acquitted in their son's death last year plead guilty to the killing, but his plea was rejected.
According to a New York Times report, Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez signed a deal to plead guilty to killing 1st Lt. Lou Allen and Capt. Phillip Esposito, both from Rockland County, before the case ever went to trial.
Military prosecutors rejected the deal and the trial went forward, reportedly so Martinez could face the death penalty. However, a military jury cleared Martinez in December, and he was honorably discharged from the Army.
"I wish it could be on national news so that anywhere he goes in the U.S. everybody will point and say, 'Hey, he's the one that murdered, the traitor that murdered those two soldiers,'" says Vivian Allen, Lt. Allen's mother.
The Allens say their focus is now on the foundation they started in their son's name to raise money for scholarships and charity work.
Closing arguments heard in fragging trial


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