<div id="subtitle">NY soldier acquitted of murdering officers says he expected conviction despite innocence</div><div><p>A New York National Guard soldier acquitted of murder in the deaths of two superiors in Iraq says he expected a guilty verdict despite being "very, very innocent."</p><p>Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez may be released from active duty and returned to the 42nd Infantry Division unit after his military court acquittal last week in North Carolina.</p><p>The 41-year-old Martinez, from Troy, N.Y., told the Times Union of Albany newspaper in e-mails that he doesn't know anything about the mine blast that killed the two in 2005. He was accused of killing a direct superior — known as "fragging" — and could have faced the death penalty if convicted.</p><p>Martinez said there were "many suspects out there" who could have committed the crime. Killed were Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern, N.Y., and 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Pa.</p><p>___</p><p>Information from: Times Union, http://www.timesunion.com</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=38475512&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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