NIA not to press for death penalty for Italian marines?

New Delhi, April 9: The National Investigation Agency which is investigating the death of Kerala fishermen by two Italian marines may not press for death penalty for the accused.

"NIA will not press for death sentence against the marines -- Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone -- as per the assurance given by India to Italy even if they are convicted of murder," an official was quoted as saying.

Officials said a special provision in the five- decade-old Extradition Act will not be helpful to the marines to escape murder charge as they were neither fugitives who could be punished with a maximum of life imprisonment nor extradited by Italy where death penalty has been abolished. They said this quoting provision under Section 34C of The Extradition Act, 1962.

"But we will honour whatever assurance has been given by India to Italy," the official said.

The victims along with some other fishermen were on board the small trawler 'Saint Antony' when it neared MV Enrica Lexie on the evening of Feb 15, 2012. Fearing that pirates were about to attack the Italian tanker, Latorre and Girone opened fire at the trawler.

OneIndia News (With inputs from PTI)