Italy for consensual solution of marines' issue: Government

New Delhi, Dec 18: Italian government has sought a consensual solution to the issue of its two marines facing murder charges in the case of killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012.

Confirming this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said the proposal is under examination. "The matter is currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court of India.

The proposal of the Italian government is at present under examination in the Government," she said. The Supreme Court on December 16 refused the pleas of murder accused Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre seeking extension of his stay in Italy on health grounds and his fellow marine the permission to travel there for Christmas, saying they cannot get such a "leeway".

Latorre, who was allowed by the apex court to go to Italy on September 12 for four months for medical treatment and recovery after he suffered stroke here on August 31, had sought extension of his stay, saying his heart surgery is scheduled on January 8, next year.

Co-accused Marine Salvatore Girone had sought the apex court's nod to go to Italy for celebrating Christmas. The case against marines pertains to the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by Latorre and Girone on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.

The complaint was lodged by Freddy, who is the owner of the fishing boat 'St Antony', in which two Indian fishermen were killed when the marines started firing on them allegedly under the misconception that they were pirates.

PTI