Barbie Gelviro, the friend of the victim in the Philippine transgender murder, revealed in a hearing at a Philippine senate committee that the suspect didn't know the victim was transgender.
Time reported via New York Daily News that the late Jennifer Laude's friend, Barbie, attested "Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton thought we were real women."
New Bedford, Mass. Native US marine is being is the primary suspect in the Philippine transgender murder. Pemberton checked in at Olongapo City's Celzone Lodge with Filipino transgender, Jennifer Laude on the evening of October 11. Laude's remains were discovered at the motel after the two got in a room.
The victim and her transgender friend, Barbie, met Pemberton while they were in Ambyanz disco bar on Oct. 11. Gelviro remembered that the young soldier was drunk when he met her and Laude. But, Gelviro emphasized Pemberton was friendly while he talked to her and Laude before they left the disco bar for the motel.
Gelviro revealed that prior to the Philippine transgender murder incident, she stayed in the same room with Pemberton and Laude. Gelviro left the two alone to accompany a Filipino guest in another room at Celzone.
Thirty minutes later, Gelviro said the motel's cashier informed her Laude was found unconscious, as reported in an article in the New York Daily News.
Barbie identified Pemberton from a photo line up as Jennifer's companion in the room where the murder took place.
Pemberton has been detained at the main camp of the Philippine military in the nation's capital of Manila. American and Filipino forces are on guard within the premises of the detention center where Pemberton is kept.
