Jeffrey
'Jennifer' Laude: Drowned to death in a motel toilet. Investigators
theorize that she was
killed when U.S. Marine Scott Pemberton realized
she was not a 'real
woman.'
Angry She wasn't 'Real Woman', Report Says U.S. Marine Killed Jeffrey 'Jennifer' Laude (Daily Inquirer, Philippines)
"Citing
the prosecutor panel's 23-page resolution, Judge Delos Santos said the
prosecution panel found aggravating circumstances that included treachery,
abuse of superior strength and cruelty. Killed from behind, the resolution also
outlined that Laude unable to defend herself. … The
panel theorized that the U.S. serviceman may have been provoked to kill Laude
upon discovering that she wasn't a real woman."
OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales:
On Monday, the Olongapo City prosecutor charged U.S.
Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton with murder in connection
with the October 11 killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer”
Laude.
On Monday afternoon, the case was raffled off to Judge RolineGinezJabalde
of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74.
U.S.
Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton
now in joint U.S.-Philippine custody.
The Justice Department approved the recommendation of a prosecution
panel led by Olongapo City Prosecutor Emelie Fe Delos
Santos that found probable cause to indict Pemberton with murder, a non-bailable offense.
Delos Santos said the panel held a two-month preliminary
investigation studying forensic examination results, investigation reports and
documents submitted by the U.S. Navy's Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Philippine National Police.
Posted by Worldmeets.US
Citing the panel's 23-page resolution, Prosecutor Delos Santos
said the prosecution panel found aggravating circumstances that included
treachery, abuse of superior strength and cruelty. The resolution also outlined
that Laude unable to defend herself.
“In the case under scrutiny, respondent Pemberton choked
Jennifer from behind. Obviously, in that position, Jennifer was deprived of the
opportunity to defend herself. What is decisive is that the execution of the
attack, without the slightest provocation from Jennifer – and unarmed victim,
made it impossible for her to defend herself or to retaliate,” the resolution reads.
The resolution also says that Pemberton made sure Laude was
dead. The panel theorized that the U.S. serviceman may have been provoked to
kill Laude upon discovering that she wasn't a real woman.
“We believe we have a strong case,” Delos Santos said
in an interview. She also led a panel that handled 2005 rape charges against
U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith.
“The volume of evidence from forensics to oral testimony and
documentary evidence is strong,” Delos Santos said, adding that the
Pemberton case is even stronger than that against Smith, who was convicted by
the Makati RTC but was later acquitted by the Court
of Appeals.
Pemberton is being detained at a facility jointly managed by
the Philippine and U.S. governments at the general headquarters of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines in Quezon City.
Laude and "a foreigner," who witnesses identified
as Pemberton, had checked into the Celzone Lodge on
Magsaysay Drive on the night of October 11. Laude was found dead after the
foreigner left the room. An autopsy showed Laude had drowned when her head was
forced into the room’s toilet.
Lawyers for the Laude family said Pemberton should be given no
special treatment, be turned over to Philippine authorities and be detained in
a regular jail once the OlongapoRTC
has issued a warrant for his arrest.
Harry Roque, one of the Laude
family’s lawyers, urged the public to help monitor how the case plays out amid
debates over the American soldier’s custody.
Jeffrey
'Jennifer' Laude murder has spawned a movement on her
theorize behalf against the U.S. militrary presence in the country.
“The question is - will Pemberton be detained? Will he be
presented before our courts?” Roque asked reporters
here.
Following the formal filing of murder charges against
Pemberton, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said it was expecting
“full cooperation” from the U.S. government.
“The prosecutor today filed a formal case of murder against
[Pemberton] in connection with the death of [Laude]. The prosecutor’s
investigation proceeded with all deliberate speed,” DFA
spokesperson Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said in a statement.
“We now await the decision of the court on the issue of
probable cause and for the next steps to proceed. In accordance with the
Visiting Forces Agreement, we look forward to the full cooperation of the U.S.
government to ensure that justice [for Laude]is
secured,” he said.
