US marine appears in court in murder of transgender woman in Philippines
PUBLISHED : Friday, 19 December, 2014, 11:08pm
UPDATED : Friday, 19 December, 2014, 11:11pm
Agence France-Presse in Olongapo
Marilou Laude, sister of slain Filipino Jennifer Laude, shows the photo she took of the US marine murder suspect in court. Photo: AP
A US marine who is accused of murdering a transgender woman in the Philippines appeared in court yesterday for the first time since her death more than two months ago.
Journalists were barred from the court hearing in the northern port city of Olongapo, which Private First Class Joseph Pemberton had to attend as a procedural matter before the start of his trial.
However lawyers who attended the hearing and took photos described Pemberton as sitting quietly while wearing handcuffs in one corner of the tiny courtroom, surrounded by burly American security personnel.
After the charge of murder was read into the court, Pemberton asked for the arraignment proceedings, in which he would have to give a plea, to be postponed, court clerk Gerry Gruspe told reporters.
It was not immediately clear on what grounds he requested the delay, but the court granted his request, and the next hearing was scheduled for Monday.
The high-profile case has inflamed anti-US feelings in the Philippines and strained diplomatic relations between the longtime allies.
Pemberton was charged with murder over the death of Jennifer Laude, 26, also known as Jeffrey, whose body was found at a cheap hotel in the red light district of Olongapo before dawn on October 12.
Pemberton, 19 at the time, had just finished taking part in US-Philippine military exercises near Olongapo and had checked into the hotel with Laude, according to police.
If he is found guilty of murder, he faces 40 years in jail.
Inside the court on Friday, the victim's sister, Marilou Laude, said she was trembling with rage as she saw Pemberton for the first time in her life
"I wanted to grab his head and bang it against the wall," Laude told reporters afterwards.
"We locked eyes briefly, but he averted his gaze. I think he recognised that I'm the sister of Jennifer. [Pemberton] has such an innocent face. I wanted to ask him why he wanted my sister dead."
Pemberton was booked and his mug shot taken before the court ordered him remanded to the Philippine military headquarters in Manila, according to Gruspe, the court clerk.
