Italy Trashes Case Against Marines Over Indian Fishermen’s Murder

Rome: A murder probe into two Italian marines who killed two Indian fishermen in Kerala in 2012 was trashed by a Rome judge, months after the Supreme Court of India dropped the case.

Italian Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini welcomed the “positive outcome” for Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre via a statement.

According to news agencies, the Italian court said that following an assessment by prosecutors last month that there was not enough evidence for a trial, the case was dismissed.

“This brings to an end a years-long event during which the defence ministry has never left the two marines and their families on their own,” Guerini was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

The unarmed fishermen were shot dead by Girone and Latorre off the southern Indian coast in February 2012.

Following a legal battle that has dogged relations between New Delhi and Rome for almost a decade, India accepted a compensation offer of ₹ 100 million (Rs 10 crore) in April 2021.

While quashing the case in June, the Supreme Court gave an order that ₹ 40 million (Rs 4 crore) each would be given to the families and the remaining ₹ 20 million (Rs 2 crore) to the owner of the boat used by the fishermen.