A military commander says the building where two New York Army National Guard officers were killed was the only structure on the base in Iraq that didn’t comply with a safety directive.
Col. Robert Crow testified today in the murder case against Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez of Schaghticoke, who is accused of planting an anti-personnel mine outside the building’s window. The blast killed Capt. Phillip Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis Allen.
Crow was garrison commander at Forward Operating Base near Tikrit when the blast occurred in 2005.
Martinez is charged with premeditated murder. Prosecutors allege he planted the mine because he was upset with Esposito, who was his superior officer. Martinez has pleaded not guilty.
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