On Oct. 11, 2014, transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude was found dead in a motel in Olongapo City. The suspected killer was identified as US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was among the 3,500 US military personnel who took part in war exercises in the country.
On Aug. 24, 2015, Pemberton admitted in court that he choked and killed Laude, 26, because he found out that his sex partner that night was a man, not a woman.
On Dec. 1, 2015, the Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 found Pemberton guilty of homicide for the killing of Laude. Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde sentenced Pemberton to between six and 12 years in prison and ordered him to pay more than P4.5 million to Laude’s family.
On March 30, 2016, RTC Branch 74 dismissed Pemberton’s petition for bail and his motion for reconsideration on his homicide conviction but reduced his jail term from a maximum 12 years to 10 years.
In April 2016, Pemberton elevated his case to the Court of Appeals. —MARIELLE MEDINA, INQUIRER RESEARCH
Sources: Inquirer Archives