A US marine accused of murder told a Philippine court yesterday he fought with and subdued a transgender Filipina in self-defence but denied murdering her, his lawyer said.
Eight months after he was charged over the death of a local transgender woman named Jennifer Laude, Joseph Scott Pemberton admitted they fought after oral sex because Laude did not have a female organ, lawyer Rowena Flores said.
Pemberton, 22 at the time, said Laude, 26, also called Jeffrey Laude, slapped him, causing him to respond "in defence", Flores said. "After some time, to subdue Jeffrey, Joseph Scott Pemberton held his (Laude's) head under his armpit. Jeffrey stopped moving. Joseph Scott Pemberton tried to revive him," Flores added.
The trial is off-limits to the press.
Harry Roque, a lawyer representing the victim's family at the trial, said the US marine testified he held Laude in an "arm lock" until he stopped moving. "He (Pemberton) then dragged her (Laude) to (the) bathroom and dumped her," he added.
Flores said Pemberton told the court he left his adversary "alive in the bathroom".