Murder Raps Filed Vs. Pemberton

The Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday has found probable cause to file the murder charge against US Marine Private First Class Scott Joseph Pemberton for the alleged killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.

In a report, City Prosecutor Emilie delos Santos confirmed that a 23-page resolution of the preliminary investigation recommended murder raps against the serviceman. He said it was still “premature” to say if Pemberton’s custody should be transferred with the filing of a criminal case in court.

The city prosecutor said there were “aggravating qualifying circumstances” that convinced the panel there was probable cause to charge Pemberton, report said. In its resolution, said the crime was qualified as murder because there was treachery, abuse of superior strength, and cruelty.

They said Laude was deprived of the chance to defend herself because she was choked from behind, it added.

The resolution said a sudden attack against an unarmed victim constitutes treachery adding that “The means employed by Pemberton show it was employed to discount any possibility of retaliation or escape.”

The ruling said that the abrasions, bruises, and contusions on Laude’s body showed “how greatly she suffered in the hands of her attacker.”

Further, the prosecutors said there was cruelty in how Laude was killed because the suspect “deliberately and inhumanely “augmented” the victim’s suffering.”

Source: GMA News Online