Release A050929a

Article 32 hearing set for Task Force Liberty Soldier

Multi-National Force-Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq--The Article 32 Investigation for Staff Sgt. Alberto B. Martinez, formerly of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Infantry Division (Mechanized), has been rescheduled for Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 in Kuwait.

Staff Sgt. Martinez is charged with two specifications of premeditated murder, violations of Article 118 (Murder), of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

An Article 32 hearing is a pre-trial investigation and is mandated by the UCMJ before court-martial proceedings take place. The purposes of the hearing are to inquire into the truth of the charges, to consider the form of the charges, to recommend disposition of the charges and to provide the accused and his or her counsel an opportunity to see the prosecution evidence before trial.

Staff Sgt. Martinez is currently in pretrial confinement at a military confinement facility in Kuwait.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS-IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFCIER, BY E-MAIL AT BILLY.BUCKNER@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR (914) 360-6997.