emckinney | 13 Sep 2020 1:05 p.m. PST |
I'm going to risk Dawghousing because this directly affects the safety of our overseas editors. President Duarte if the Philippines granted an "absolute pardon" to a U.S. Marine convicted six years ago of murdering a transgender woman, leaving her head thrust into a motel toilet. A court had ruled that the prisoner had to be credited for good behavior; critics argued that he had been held separate from the general population, so there was bare opportunity for bad behavior. Since the prisoner was supposed to be released under the order, the presidential pardon seems to be gratuitous. Past statements by President Duarte expressed hostility toward people like the victim. Critics see the pardon as a promise that other murderers should expect to be let off, or to serve very short sentences, if the president disapproves of the victims. |
BorisTheSpider | 13 Sep 2020 2:52 p.m. PST |
It was obscene that Duterte was invited to the Whitehouse. |
William Warner | 13 Sep 2020 3:41 p.m. PST |
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Wargamer Blue | 13 Sep 2020 4:36 p.m. PST |
What were the circumstances of the actual murder? What caused it to happen? |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 13 Sep 2020 5:15 p.m. PST |
@Wargamer Blue: What were the circumstances of the actual murder? Pemberton picked Laude up at a bar and took her to motel, probably had sex with her, and then strangled her and stuffed her head into a toilet. link What caused it to happen? "A witness told investigators that Pemberton said he choked Laude after discovering she was transgender." link |
Editor in Chief Bill | 13 Sep 2020 6:56 p.m. PST |
Duterte is generally favorable toward LGBT rights. He said that the pardon was a matter of fairness; that Pemberton would be out if not for 'technical reasons'. |
emckinney | 13 Sep 2020 8:21 p.m. PST |
Bill, I apologize if my characterization of Duarte and the politics were wrong. I was basing it on reports. A 10-year sentence is pretty short for second degree murder. In any case, a disheartening bit of violence and hate. |
Legion 4 | 14 Sep 2020 9:14 a.m. PST |
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John the OFM | 15 Sep 2020 2:34 p.m. PST |
As for Duterte, his views and policies appear to be rather flexible. Since court martial verdicts can be overturned if the Good Guy murdered Bad Guys, or so he claimed, Duterte seems to be sucking up. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 15 Sep 2020 3:10 p.m. PST |
A 10-year sentence is pretty short for second degree murder. I believe that Philippine law still allows for a "shock" defense – that is, that idea that the murderer was acting in shock from learning the true gender of the victim. (The shock defense is generally no longer allowed in most First World nations.) |
Editor in Chief Bill | 16 Sep 2020 2:43 p.m. PST |
Murder is not particularly funny, especially when both our staff editors have had brothers murdered. Life is tough in the Philippines. |
dapeters | 17 Sep 2020 2:00 p.m. PST |
In the USA we still have a notion of a crime of Passion |