US Marine admits choking Filipina trans woman to death
A US Marine has admitted choking a Filipina trans woman to death whilst stationed in the Philippines.
Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was stationed near Manila, admitted during his trial on Monday that he choked Jennifer Laude to death after he discovered she was trans.
The incident took place in Olongapo City, just outside the former US naval base.
Posting on Twitter, the lawyer for the victim Harry Roque, said: “He restrained Jennifer through an ‘arm lock’ until she stopped moving”.
According to Roque, Pemberton said claimed feared that he would be raped, and that he choked Laude out of self defence.
Speaking in court last week, Pemberton’s mother Lisa noted her son’s “good character”, and that he did not discriminate against LGBT people.
Investigators said that Laude died in October 2014 through strangulation and asphyxia by drowning.
Pemberton remains in custody.
The case has re-ignited tensions around the US military presence in the Philippines.
