Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is the primary suspect of murdering transgender Filipino Jeffrey Laude "Jennifer" in Olongapo City, her body found on October 11, 2014 inside a comfort room in the motel.
The suspect in the murder of a 26-year-old transgender woman in Olongapo City faces death penalty if found guilty by the United States military courts, according to a former US marine officer.
On Saturday, Jeffrey Laude, also known as Jennifer Laude, was found dead inside the comfort room of an Olongapo hotel after checking in with a US marine.
The suspect was later identified as Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton.
“Such idiocy could give him the death penalty,” said the officer who wished to remain anonymous.
He said that it is impossible for the US government to turn over the suspect even if the Philippine government demanded his custody because Pemberton faces court martial in the US.
“And what they don’t know is that there is such a thing as death penalty in the US military if found guilty,” he said.
The officer said this could have been prevented if American soldiers were briefed properly.
“What the men in the military need to understand is that the Philippines is not the same 20 years ago.
They are briefed before deployment not to engage in sexual encounters with foreigners,” he said.
But the problem, he added, is that the personnel being deployed are now younger and are stubborn.
The former marine officer said that the US military will not coddle the suspect especially with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) involved.
It is possible that Pemberton will be tried in the country, but he needs to come back to the US for court martial proceedings, according to the ex-officer.
He questioned the practice of the US military of deploying young, inexperienced soldiers and expecting them to be ambassadors of the country.
“Not all of them are educated, some only had basic training, which means they only trained for six months,” he added.
“For those who can’t afford college, kids out of high school would take the bait and enlist in the military. But they shouldn’t be deployed yet since it’s not easy to understand another culture, and briefing a soldier for a day is not enough,” he said.
There have been no US military executions since 1961, although the death penalty remains enforced, according to Wikipedia.com
On July 28, 2008, then President George W. Bush approved the execution of former US Army Private Ronald Gray who had been convicted of multiple murders and rapes. Gray, however, was
granted a stay of execution by a federal judge.
Meanwhile, Mike Suesbeck, the German fiancé of Laude, decried reports that tend to picture as sex worker and a thief.
Calling Laude as his wife since Dec. 23, 2012, Suesbeck said he could not make it to the country, but vowed to protect his “wife’s” reputation.
“I won’t accept her name being blamed and lame excuses are being used to explain a bestial monstrous murder. But even the news are doing that, claiming the only reason could have been stealing,” he said.
The death of Laude has been difficult for the German national as many people have criticized Laude in social media.
“Jennifer (Laude) never was a prostitute and in life she never did steal,” Suesback added.
He called on all bisexuals to stand up for their rights and make sure that this crime is paid.
“Make sure that no one ever could abuse you like meat,” he said. - tempo
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