A court in the Philippines has convicted a U.S. Marine of killing a transgender Filipino woman in a hotel northwest of Manila last year.

The court said Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was guilty of homicide for strangling 26-year-old Jennifer Laude and sentenced him to up to 12 years in jail. 

He had been facing up to 40 years if convicted of the higher charge of murder.

The killing in Olongapo city ignited anti-American protests and calls by left-wing and nationalist groups for the Philippines to end military agreements with the United States.  Those groups oppose provisions agreed to last year that allow U.S. personnel facing criminal charges to remain in U.S. custody throughout their judicial proceedings.
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