US Marine found guilty of killing transgender Filipino

A Philippine court on Tuesday convicted a U.S. Marine of killing a Filipino last year after he discovered she was a transgender woman. Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton was convicted of homicide by first strangling Jennifer Laude and then dunking her head into a toilet bowl in hotel they had checked into after meeting in a disco bar in October 2014 in Olongapo, a city north-west of Manila. Pemberton met Ms Laude while he was on a break after participating in joint military exercises in the country. Laude’s mother, Julita, had hoped Pemberton would be convicted of murder, a more serious crime than homicide.

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

Jennifer Laude’s mother, Julita

Two of Pemberton’s U.S. Marine colleagues testified that Pemberton told them, “I think I killed a he/she." The 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. Pemberton, an anti-tank missile operator from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was one of thousands of American and Philippine military personnel who participated in the joint exercises last year. Regional Trial Court Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde ordered Pemberton temporarily jailed at the New Bilibid Prison, a national penitentiary in suburban Muntinlupa City.