Protesters slam early release of US Marine who strangled to death transgender woman
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2020-09-03
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Activists protested today (Sept 3) against the early release of a U.S. marine who killed a Filipino transgender woman after discovering she had a penis.
Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was found guilty of strangling to death Jennifer Laude in 2014 in Olongapo City, the Philippines.
The former soldier was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison but Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde has ruled he can now be released for good behaviour.
Women and gay rights groups were outraged by the court's decision and gathered in front of the Department of Justice building in Manila City this morning (Sept 3).
Footage shows rights activists staging a protest holding banners while demanding that the former soldier is kept behind bars.
Laude's body was found inside a motel in Olongapo City wrapped in a bed sheet and her head slumped over a toilet bowl.
In previous hearings, the court was told that Laude went back to Pemberton's hotel room and performed oral sex on him. However, when he reached down between Laude’s legs he discovered she was ''a man'' and had a penis.
Pemberton said he was angry and felt like he was ''being raped by another man.'' His lawyer, Rowena Flores, claimed that there was an argument and Pemberton ''acted in self-defence'' and did not realise he had killed the victim.
Pemberton was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was later reduced to ten.
Judge Roline Ginez-Abalde said in an order dated September 1 that the marine had already served his penalty after taking into account his "good conduct allowances" he accumulated.
The country's Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA ) law allows convicts an early release based on good conduct 'points', which count towards time that can be deducted from term of imprisonment.
The court gave Pemberton a perfect GCTA score, and granted him early release 4 years ahead of his full 10-year sentence.
Meanwhile, Laude's family has filed a motion for reconsideration questioning how Pemberton's sentence deduction was computed since he was in isolation at a special facility in the military headquarters in Quezon City.
Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was found guilty of strangling to death Jennifer Laude in 2014 in Olongapo City, the Philippines.
The former soldier was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison but Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde has ruled he can now be released for good behaviour.
Women and gay rights groups were outraged by the court's decision and gathered in front of the Department of Justice building in Manila City this morning (Sept 3).
Footage shows rights activists staging a protest holding banners while demanding that the former soldier is kept behind bars.
Laude's body was found inside a motel in Olongapo City wrapped in a bed sheet and her head slumped over a toilet bowl.
In previous hearings, the court was told that Laude went back to Pemberton's hotel room and performed oral sex on him. However, when he reached down between Laude’s legs he discovered she was ''a man'' and had a penis.
Pemberton said he was angry and felt like he was ''being raped by another man.'' His lawyer, Rowena Flores, claimed that there was an argument and Pemberton ''acted in self-defence'' and did not realise he had killed the victim.
Pemberton was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was later reduced to ten.
Judge Roline Ginez-Abalde said in an order dated September 1 that the marine had already served his penalty after taking into account his "good conduct allowances" he accumulated.
The country's Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA ) law allows convicts an early release based on good conduct 'points', which count towards time that can be deducted from term of imprisonment.
The court gave Pemberton a perfect GCTA score, and granted him early release 4 years ahead of his full 10-year sentence.
Meanwhile, Laude's family has filed a motion for reconsideration questioning how Pemberton's sentence deduction was computed since he was in isolation at a special facility in the military headquarters in Quezon City.
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