Pemberton’s mother attends trial

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines  – The mother of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton appeared at the murder trial yesterday and vouched for the character of her son.

Lisa Pemberton told the court she could not believe her son could be capable of committing the crime.

Defense lawyers started presenting evidence and witnesses for Pemberton, who was accused of killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude here last year.

Harry Roque, lawyer for the Laude family, said he expected the camp of the accused to use the time reserved for them by the court in presenting their case before the judge.

“We expect no less than three or four witnesses to be presented in court in the next two days,” Roque told The STAR.

Julita Laude, mother of Jeffery, said she expected Pemberton’s mother to speak about the good character of her son.

“She’s a mother like me, but her son is still alive and she can still see and embrace him, unlike me who until my death can no longer see or embrace my Jennifer,” Julita said.

Roque said he would object to Pemberton’s mother as a witness, noting her testimony has no bearing on the case.

Meanwhile, the city prosecutor and head of the prosecution panel said the court granted the two motions they filed last week.

The prosecutors filed on Aug. 10 a motion seeking to reconsider the evidence that the court earlier refused to admit.

Another motion was filed seeking a clarification on the judge’s order dated Aug. 6 regarding a particular evidence.

Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 71 earlier excluded several pieces of evidence offered by the prosecution.

The Laude family feared the exclusion of the evidence could weaken the case and cause delays, noting the one-year deadline for the trial provided under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

The VFA states that after the lapse of one year from the start of the trial, the US is relieved of its judicial obligation to cooperate with the Philippine government on a case.

The one-year period began with the filing of the criminal charges against Pemberton in December last year. There are only four months left to finish the trial.