By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
A U.S. Marine accused of killing a Filipino transgender woman made a surprise appearance in court Friday, local media reported.
Wearing a light grey suit, white shirt and multicolored tie, Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton heard lawyers outline a list of witnesses and the facts in the case at a pre-trial hearing at Olongapo Regional Trial Court.
Pemberton, 19, had not been expected at the hearing as a waiver of attendance had been granted at an earlier hearing, GMA News reported.
"It's good that he attended and he heard all the stipulation of facts," Virgie Suarez, a lawyer for the family of the alleged victim, said.
The marine is the prime suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Jeffrey Laude, known as Jennifer, who was found dead at a motel in Olongapo City, in Zambales province, northwest of Manila, on Oct. 11 last year.
A convoy carrying Pemberton and U.S. military guards arrived at the court compound before dawn on Friday. The marine is being held in custody at a U.S. facility inside the Philippine army's headquarters in Manila.
Later, lawyers for the Laude family accused Chief Prosecutor Emilie Fe Delos Santos of blocking demands for Pemberton’s commanding officer and two other marine officers linked to his military service to be called as witnesses.
"We did not expect that to come from her since we are supposed to be on the same side," Suarez said, quoted in the Philippine Star.
Harry Roque, the lead counsel for the Laude family, added: "She has refused to talk to us in the most unprofessional way imaginable. She is making it easier for the defense by doing the latter's work."
Suarez told the court that 37 witnesses, including 11 eyewitnesses and nine expert witnesses, would be called to give evidence.
The defense is to present 10 witnesses, including Pemberton, his mother, a U.S. legal expert, a military expert, a psychiatrist and a U.S. Navy investigator.
On Monday, the court entered a not guilty plea for Pemberton. His trial is due to go ahead on March 23 and last until Sept. 22.
The killing of Laude has inflamed tension in the Philippines over the U.S military presence and led to calls for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement that allows the U.S. to retain custody of personnel accused of crimes until the end of Philippine judicial procedures.
