U.S. Marine charged with drowning transgender woman in toilet bowl after undressing her (Photos)

A U.S. Marine has been charged with murder in the death of a transgender woman who was found strangled in a Philippines hotel room in October, a prosecutor said.

He allegedly confessed that he choked the victim until she stopped moving after he undressed her and found out she was transgender

Laude’s naked body was found with her head in a toilet in an Olongapo hotel room shortly after midnight on October 12, police said.

The murder of 26-year-old Jennifer Laude caused widespread anger in the Philippines, with the killing labelled a ‘hate crime’ and sparking protests outside the US Embassy.

And US Marine PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton, 19, has now been charged with the murder, with eye-witness statements saying that he had met Ms Laude and another transgender woman at a bar in Olongapo City while on shore leave.

The three checked into a motel room, before the victim told her friend they should leave before the Marine could find out she was transgender.

But later that night after returning to his ship the suspect allegedly told Marine Lance Corporal Jairn Michael Rose: ‘I think I killed a he-she.’

Pemberton allegedly told Rose that he choked Ms Laude with one arm until she stopped moving after he undressed her and found out she was transgender…