Fishermen killing case: Italy recalls ambassador to India

The decision came on a day when Kerala police filed a chargesheet accusing the two Italians — Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone — of murder before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kollam (Kerala).

The marines on board the Italian ship ‘Enrica Lexie’ had allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen — Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Bi — on February 15,apparently mistaking them for pirates.

In Rome,the Italian Foreign Ministry in a statement said,”In the light of the developments in the situation in Kerala and the charges against the two Italian servicemen,Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone,the Italian ambassador to new Delhi,Giacomo Sanfelice has been recalled to Rome for consultations with the Government”.

Italy insists that since the incident occurred in international waters,the marines should be tried in Italian courts rather than Indian courts.

Sources said to be more engaged is always helpful than withdrawing the diplomat from New Delhi.

Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan De Mistura,currently in India,met the marines yesterday,expressed concern over the lengthy trial in India.

He described the killing of the fishermen as “accidental” and insisted that Indian courts did not have jurisdiction over the incident.

The naval guards,lodged in the Central prison at Thiruvanathapuram for nearly three months,are also facing charges under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder),427 (causing damage or loss) and 34 (acting in common intention).

The chargesheet,drawn up after three months of investigation,said the ship was sailing 20.5 nautical miles off the Indian coast when the marines fired at the fishermen from Kerala who were aboard the boat St Antony.

The chargesheet listed vital exhibits like Voyage Data Recorder (DR),six Beretta guns,two mini-light machine guns,1690 bullets and the deck-log of the ship,both in Italian and English and GPS,seized from the vessel.

Chargesheet filed against Italian marines in shootout case

Three months after they allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast,police today filed a chargesheet against two Italian marines in a court here charging them with murder under IPC and also invoking the International Maritime Law.

The marines,Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone on board the Italian ship ‘Enrica Lexie’ when the incident occurred on February 15,are listed as the first and second accused respectively in the 196-page chargesheet,including annexures,filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The naval guards,lodged in the Central prison at Thiruvanathapuram for nearly three months,are also facing charges under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder),427 (causing damage or loss) and 34 (acting in common intention).

Article 3 of the Suppression of Unlawful Act of International Martime Navigation has also been invoked in connection with the incident which had led to a diplomatic row between India and Italy.

The chargesheet,drawn up after three months of investigation,said the ship was sailing 20.5 nautical miles off the Indian coast when the marines fired at the fishermen from Kerala who were aboard the boat St Antony.

The chargesheet listed vital exhibits like Voyage Data Recorder (DR),six Beretta guns,two mini-light machine guns,1690 bullets and the deck-log of the ship,both in Italian and English and GPS,seized from the vessel.