Italy dismisses probe against marines in case of killing two fishermen in Kerala for lack of evidence

ROME: A judge in Rome dismissed the probe against two Italian marines in shooting two fishermen to death off the coast of Kerala. The action is after the prosecutors informed that there was not enough evidence for the trial. The Supreme Court of India had closed the proceedings related to the case seven months ago.

The incident happened in February 2012. On February 15 in 2012, two Kerala fishermen were shot dead by the Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone aboard the oil tanker Enrica Lexi while returning after fishing near Lakshadweep aboard the fishing vessel St Anthony. The incident took place 20 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala. Shortly after the incident, the Indian Coast Guard detained Enrica Lexi and the two Italian marines. Latorre and Giron returned to Italy from India on September 13, 2014 and May 28, 2016, following the case.

Italian Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini welcomed dismissal of the case. In June 2021, the Supreme Court of India quashed the FIR registered in the case and granted bail to the two. The Supreme Court ruled that the arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), should pay compensation to the families of the slain fishermen. In addition to the Rs 2.17 crore paid, Italy had paid Rs 10 crore as compensation. Italy has informed the tribunal that a re-investigation in the case will be started.