SC lets Italian marine stay home for three more months

New Delhi, April 9: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Italian marine Massimilano Latorre to stay in Italy for another three months - up to July 15 - on health grounds.

The bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave took on record an undertaking that Chief Master Sergeant Latorre will return to India to face trial, along with fellow marine Salvatore Girone, over the killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012 after allegedly mistaking them for pirates.

Latorre had applied for extension of his stay in Italy on health grounds, for further treatment and recuperation following heart surgery on January 5. [Supreme Court allows ailing Italian Marine Latorre to visit home country]

The court on January 14 had extended by three months Latorre's stay in Italy for his recovery after his heart surgery. This extension ends on April 12.

The court also directed its registry to list for the last week of April a petition by the marines challenging the investigation and prosecution of their case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

While allowing three months extension to Latorre on January 14, the apex court had taken an undertaking from the Italian ambassador assuring the court of the marine's return on expiry of the extended period.

The court had on September 12, 2014 allowed Latorre to go to Italy for four months for treatment, recovery and rehabilitation after he suffered a brain stroke.

IANS