Guilty verdict for US Marine

A Philippine courtroom on Tues. convicted a U.S. Marine of killing a Filipino last yr after he discovered she was a transgender woman.

LONG-AWAITED VERDICT – Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberto is escorted by U.S. and Philippine authorities as he arrives at the Regional Trial Court Branch 74 of Olongapo City yesterday for the promulgation of the decision in the murder case against him for the death of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.

Because of that, the judge lowered the sentence to a minimum of 6 years and maximum of 12 years, instead of 12-20 years.

The court ordered Pemberton to be transferred from Camp Aguinaldo to the national penitentiary. Pemberton had been charged with murder, but was convicted of the lesser offense of homicide, which does not require malicious intent.

“But the important thing is he will be jailed”. “My son’s life is not wasted”.

“This is a bittersweet victory because he was not convicted of murder”, Roque said. According to testimony at the trial, he met Laude at a nightclub and went back with her to his hotel. USA officials were not immediately available for comment.

In convicting the US Marine, the court took into consideration the admission of Pemberton that he “killed a he/she” to his friends.

The October 11, 2014, killing sparked anger in the Philippines and reignited calls by left-wing groups and nationalists for an end to America’s military presence in the country at a time when the U.S. is reasserting its dominance in Asia and Manila has turned to Washington for support, amid an escalating territorial dispute with China.

Justice may have already been served in the Jennifer Laude slay case but the custody battle for US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton is still far from over. Police officers, fire trucks and iron railings were used to prevent them from getting closer to the courthouse.

Pemberton, an anti-tank missile operator from MA, was one of thousands of American and Philippine military personnel who participated in the joint exercises past year. First by strangling Laude and then dunking her head into a toilet bowl. He said that when he got to the disco, he was approached by what he thought were two provocatively dressed women who offered sex.

He was later identified as Laude’s companion that night by a bellboy at the hotel. About 30 minutes later, Pemberton walked out, leaving the room’s door ajar, according to hotel staff. Roque said there were clear orders from the court that until a clarification is made as to where exactly Pemberton will be detained, he will be temporarily held at the New Bilibid Prison.

The case also revived a debate over which government should have custody of USA military personnel who run afoul of local laws under a VFA.

But the Americans refused to hand him over, citing provisions of the agreement that allow USA authorities to hold servicemember-defendants “until completion of all judicial proceedings”.

She also ordered Eduardo Oban Jr., executive director of the Philippine Commission on Visiting Forces (PCVF) to submit within five days a memorandum of agreement or written agreement between duly authorized representatives of the USA and Philippine governments on Pemberton’s place of detention.