FILE PHOTO: Mug shot of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton (CREDITS: PNP)
MANILA, Philippines – U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton refuses to enter a plea in his murder case that stemmed from the death of a Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.
During his arraignment on Monday, the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 instead enters a not guilty plea for Pemberton.
Pemberton was finally arraigned sixty days after the court granted his motion to suspend the proceedings.
The suspension was granted because of Pemberton’s petition for review filed before the Department of Justice seeking a reversal of Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office finding of probable cause in the murder complaint filed against the U.S. Marine.
Last Friday, February 20, DOJ issued a resolution affirming the findings of the prosecutors.
“He refused to enter a plea because they are still questioning before a higher court the DOJ’s dismissal of their motion for reconsideration. But even with that, the trial will proceed,” Atty. Virgie Suarez, legal counsel of the Laude family, said in an interview.
During the arraignment, Pemberton’s camp filed a motion for bill of particulars.
He was asking the court for more details on the information on the murder case filed against him.
The prosecution is quick to oppose this saying this could be orally argued during the trial proper but the court denied it.
“There is another piece of evidence that will come in. But we have already established that he was the only one with Laude during the last 30 minutes of life of the transgender, so there is a probable cause,” Prosecutor Emilie Fe Delos Santos said.
The marking of evidence for both the prosecution and the defense was also made as part of the preliminary conference.
Sisters Marilou and Michelle meanwhile insist that they will not accept a settlement or a plea bargain.
“The family is very clear, no settlement. We will continue the fight; the Laude family is seeking justice,” Atty. Harry Roque, legal counsel of the Laude family, said.
Meanwhile, Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of Olongapo RTC Branch 74 denied both motions of the Laude family asking for the transfer of Pemberton to an ordinary jail facility in the city and to allow live media coverage of the proceedings.
According to the Laude’s, they will elevate the issue to the Supreme Court.
After the arraignment, Pemberton was immediately brought back to his detention cell inside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Pre-trial is scheduled this coming Friday, wherein witnesses of both camps will be presented. Trial proper is expected to begin by the third week of March. (Bianca Dava / UNTV News)