Sergeant to face judge in slaying of soldiers from Hudson Valley

The U.S. Army sergeant accused of killing two Hudson Valley soldiers in Iraq will face a judge Friday at a pretrial hearing.Sergeant Alberto Martinez is charged with premeditated murder in the deaths

News 12 Staff

May 28, 2014, 9:00 PM

Updated 3,789 days ago

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The U.S. Army sergeant accused of killing two Hudson Valley soldiers in Iraq will face a judge Friday at a pretrial hearing.Sergeant Alberto Martinez is charged with premeditated murder in the deaths of Lieutenant Louis Allen, of Chester, and Captain Phillip Esposito, of Pearl River. In June 2005, Army investigators say Martinez used an explosive device to kill Esposito and Allen, who were both superior officers.Allen?s parents say they will once again pack their bags to be at the trial in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Vivian Allen, Louis? mother, says she wants to be at the trial to hear the testimony firsthand. Allen?s father says he wants Martinez to know the families are in the courtroom. Traveling to the trial has been a financial hardship for the Allens, who have spent more than $4,000 on one trip to Kuwait alone. Martinez is the first soldier in the Iraq war to be charged with killing an officer. He could face the death penalty.