US marine charged with killing Filipino transgender woman | World news | The GuardianUS marine charged with killing Filipino transgender woman | World news | The Guardian










Close






Skip to main content

 









sign in








subscribe









search




jobs






more


from the guardian:


jobs


change edition:



switch to the UK edition


switch to the AU edition







US edition




switch to the UK edition




switch to the Australia edition













The Guardian


Winner of the Pulitzer prize











home


›
world




UK


europe


americas


asia


middle east


africa


australia










home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







browse all sections
close







 











Philippines



US marine charged with killing Filipino transgender woman









Joseph Pemberton faces 20 years in jail if found guilty of murder of Jennifer Laude in case that has fanned anti-US sentiment














Protesters hang a banner near the US embassy during a protest over the killing of Jennifer Laude. Photograph: Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images



Agence France-Presse in Manila


Monday 15 December 2014 06.13 EST







Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp
















Prosecutors in the Philippines have filed murder charges against a US marine accused of killing a Filipino transgender woman in a case that has fanned anti-American sentiment.
Prosecutors found probable cause against Pte First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton and decided that he used “treachery, abuse of superior authority and cruelty” against his alleged victim, lead prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos told a televised briefing.
“You can see the kind of cruelty she endured, the injuries she sustained,” Delos Santos said. “We believe we have a strong case.” Pemberton will not be allowed to post bail, she said. Murder is punishable by up to 40 years in jail.
Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old transgender woman also known as Jeffrey, was found dead on 2 October in a hotel, in the port city of Olongapo. She was discovered half-naked in a bathroom with marks of strangulation on her neck, according to police. Laude died from asphyxia by drowning, according to a police autopsy.
“This is not an ordinary murder. This is heinous because she was beaten up,” the Laude family lawyer, Harry Roque, told reporters.
Pemberton, who had just finished taking part in US-Philippine military exercises near Olongapo, had checked into the hotel with Laude and was the last person seen with her. Police said Pemberton, aged 19 at the time of the death, had asked prosecutors to downgrade the murder charge to homicide, which carries a maximum 20-year prison term.
Laude’s death sparked street protests and the public outcry pressured the Philippine government to seek the transfer of Pemberton’s detention from a US warship to military headquarters in Manila.
Under a 1998 agreement governing US troops when they are in the Philippines, Filipino courts have jurisdiction over cases involving American soldiers accused of crimes. But the agreement also allows suspects to remain in US custody.
“We look forward to the full cooperation of the US government in ensuring that justice is secured for Jeffrey ‘Jennifer’ Laude,” foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement. The US embassy had no immediate comment.
President Benigno Aquino has said the case should not sour relations with the US, the Philippines’s most important diplomatic and military ally. “Name me any place that doesn’t have any crime. And the sin of one person should be reflective of the entire country? I don’t think so,” Aquino said in October.
Following formal charges by prosecutors, the court with jurisdiction over the case will decide whether there are enough grounds for the accused to stand trial, although there is no timetable for this process.
The case is the second major test of the 1998 visiting forces agreement. In 2006, US marine Lance Cpl Daniel Smith was sentenced to 40 years in jail after being found guilty of raping a woman a year earlier. Smith, however, walked free in 2009 after his accuser recanted her statement, prompting an appellate court to acquit him.



Topics



Philippines




US military




Asia Pacific








Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp



















 






more on this story














Deadly bombing on Philippines bus

At least 10 people killed and more than 30 wounded as mortar goes off on rural service in country’s south, authorities say



Published: 9 Dec 2014




Deadly bombing on Philippines bus












Tropical storm Hagupit wreaks havoc in Philippines, killing at least 27

Nearly 1.7 million evacuated but relief as storm leaves area that damage and lives lost less than super-typhoon Haiyan



Published: 9 Dec 2014




Tropical storm Hagupit wreaks havoc in Philippines, killing at least 27














popular












 








The Guardian






back to top














home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







all sections
close







home




US




world
selected




UK




europe




americas




asia




middle east




africa




australia






opinion




sports




soccer




MLS




NFL




MLB




NBA




NHL






soccer




live scores




tables




competitions




results




fixtures




clubs






tech




games






arts




movies




tv & radio




music




books




art & design




stage




classical






lifestyle




food




health




love & sex




family




women




home & garden






fashion




business




markets




companies






money




travel




USA




europe




UK






environment




development




cities






science




media




crosswords




video











World




›
Philippines








jobs

subscribe
all topics
all contributors

info and resources

contact us

feedback

complaints & corrections
terms & conditions
privacy policy
cookie policy
securedrop


© 2015 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.






















 
