Pemberton appears before court

U.S. Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton (center) attends court hearing (screengrab from footage by Atty. Harry Roque)

MANILA – US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton on Friday morning officially submitted himself to the Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 with his lawyer for the hearing of his murder charge for killing Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.

A video can be seen via Youtube. It was uploaded by the lawyer of the Laude family, Harry Roque.

Upon seeing Pemberton, the victim’s sister Marilou Laude, said that they felt confused during the court encounter.

“We feel scared and angry at the same time.

I want to go up to him and ask him why he killed Jennifer,” said Marilou. “I’m so mad to the point that I want to hit him, but there are guards surrounding him,” she added.

She shared that she was able to take a photo of Pemberton inside the court.

According to their lawyer, the family will be filing three motions which include a formal entry of appearance, for Pemberton’s detention in a prison jail in Olongapo, and to allow media coverage for Pemberton’s court appearances.