A court in the Phillippines convicted a U.S. Marine of homicide Tuesday after determining he had killed a Filipino woman upon learning she was transgender.
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The case has sparked debate over the USA military’s presence in the Philippines; Pemberton was one of thousands of American troops participating in a joint training exercise with Philippine troops, and the U.S. has been more assertive in the area lately, supporting the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China.
The case has cast a pall over the renewal of military relations between the USA and the Philippines, providing fodder for those who object to any American presence.
The anti-tank missile operator from New Bedford, Massachusetts, then left the bar with her, and checked into a nearby hotel.
The naked body of Jennifer Laude was found with her head in a toilet in an Olongapo hotel room shortly after midnight on October 12, 2014, police said.
Malou, Ms Laude’s sister, told Reuters news agency: “We anticipated a murder conviction but rather got homicide”. Laude’s family wanted Pemberton to be found guilty of murder, which would have carried a longer jail sentence, but settled for the lesser charge of homicide.
“The important thing is he will be jailed”.
In her ruling, Jabalde put weight on Pemberton’s testimony that he found the experience “so revolting and disgusting” that he lost his mind when he learned that Laude was not a woman.
Under a Philippine Supreme Court decision, Pemberton must served his six to 12-year sentence there.
She explained that the temporary nature of Pemberton’s imprisonment in a Philippine facility is because she finds ambiguous the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement regarding USA servicemen convicted of crimes committed in the country. According to Pemberton’s defense, he met Laude, who was dressed as a schoolgirl, in a bar and immediately agreed to have sex when she offered.
Pemberton has been detained for more than a year at a Philippine military camp that is guarded by U.S. Marines.
The court also dismissed Pemberton’s claim of self-defense, and asked why he left Laude gasping for life in Room No. 1 of the Celzone Lodge without asking for help to bring him to a hospital.
A lawyer for Laude’s family told reporters: “Pemberton told the court he thought Laude just lost consciousness after he strangled her, which he considered an act of self-defence”.
“Not quite a victory”.
A protester holds a slogan with a picture of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl.
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President Barack Obama recently signed an agreement with the Philippines to allow US forces to pre-position disaster relief supplies and other materials in the country.
