Supreme Court to hear Italian marines' plea shortly

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is expected to hear on Monday a plea filed by two Italian marines, who are accused of killing two Indian

off the coast of

in February 2012.In their plea, the marines have asked for dropping of charges against them.The special court hearing the case was supposed to conclude the trial in a year. The marines have also highlighted in the plea, the delay in trial.

Italian marines Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre have been under detention for nearly two years on suspicion of killing two fisherman.

The SC had on January 18 last year ruled that the Kerala government did not have any independent jurisdiction over the two Italian marines. It said only the Union of India could try the two marines, and ordered the setting up of a special court. Italy is planning to ask India to send the marines home, pending formal charges and a trial, a diplomat said.

The two marines claimed that they thought the two unarmed fishermen were pirates and only fired warning shots in the air.

Rome is planning to go for all possible legal measures to free the marines.

Oneindia News