SC allows marine Latorre to stay back in Italy

New Delhi, Sep 28: The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre, one of the two accused of killing Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012, to continue to stay in Italy till an international tribunal rules which country has the right to try the case.

The court had earlier permitted the other marine, Salvatore Girone, to return to Italy.

The Bench headed by Justice Anil R. Dave permitted Latorre to continue to stay in Italy after the central government told the court that it had no objection provided similar conditions were applied to him as were imposed on Girone.

Latorre's stay in Italy was to end on September 30, and he had sought an extension seeking parity with Girone, who is already back in Italy on health grounds.

The marines were on board the Italian oil tanker "Enrica Lexie" when they killed the two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala on February 15, 2012.

The complaint against the marines was lodged by the owner of fishing boat "St Antony" in which the fishermen were killed when the marines opened fire on, allegedly mistaking them for pirates.

IANS