"The lawyers of the family of slain transgender
Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude said a settlement with the camp of US Marine
Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton is impossible now that both parties
have rested their cases. Pemberton is facing a murder charge at the Regional Trial Court
Branch 74 here over the death of Laude, whose body was found inside a
motel room on October 11 last year. Witnesses identified Pemberton as
the foreigner who was last seen with her as they checked into the motel. “Any settlement now is impossible, especially since both parties are
done presenting their respective evidence,” lawyer Virgie Lacsa Suarez,
one of the Laude family’s lawyers, told the Inquirer in a text message
on Monday. Suarez said since the start of the prosecution’s presentation of
evidence on March 23, there have been no talks about a settlement. “There was only a discussion on a plea bargaining as part of the pretrial period early February,” Suarez said. She also denied reports that the family demanded P38 million and six US visas to drop the case. “There is simply no truth to that… Maybe that’s what they (defense lawyers) want to offer [the family],” Suarez said. She suspected that Pemberton’s lawyers were “testing the water” when they revealed this information. “There is no truth to reports that we will drop the case at anytime,” Suarez said....... Lawyer Harry Roque Jr., the Laude family’s lead counsel, described
reports that the family is open to settlement as a “PR play” or a
publicity stunt from Pemberton’s camp. He also cautioned Pemberton’s lawyers against approaching the Laude family without the consent of the private counsels..........In April, Laude’s relatives sought at least P200 million in moral and
exemplary damages as the civil aspect of the case was tackled in
Pemberton’s trial. Roque had said Laude’s sister, Marilou, had told the court that P100
million would compensate for the “agony that the family has to go
through because Jennifer was treated like an animal.” “The family also wants another P100 million for exemplary damages so
other people, especially American soldiers, will know the cost of
treating someone like Jennifer,” Roque had said...
The Laude family has started preparing for “a national day of outrage” in time for her first death anniversary in October. Suarez said members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) community will also hold a nationwide pride march to demand
justice as the Laude family awaits the court’s decision on the murder
case against Pemberton. “Now that we’re through with the hearing, we will not let up on seeking justice for Jennifer’s death,” Suarez said..........In his testimony last week, Pemberton said he pushed Laude when he
discovered that she was not a woman. Pemberton said he felt deceived and
tried to defend himself when Laude slapped him. Pemberton said he held Laude in an arm lock and later dragged her to the bathroom, hoping to revive her."