Massimiliano Latorre, one of the two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast, will not return to India.
Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and sought a "rapid and positive solution" in the case of the two Italian marines being held in India for allegedly shooting to death two Indian fishermen in 2012.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon expects India and Italy to resolve their standoff over the marine issues constructively and in compliance with their international obligations."The Secretary-General hopes and expects Italy and India to resolve this matter constructively, and in compliance with their international obligations," Eduardo del Buey, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN chief, told reporters.
Two Italian marines, arrested 10 months back for shooting dead two Indian fishermen, on Saturday flew back home for Christmas in a chartered flight, but will have to return within two weeks as per the court order.
The controversy surrounding two Italian marines facing murder charges in India has triggered tensions between both the nations and now a journalist from Italy has penned a book to soothe frayed nerves back home by sharing India's side of the story with his countrymen.
The ministry of external affairs has ratified an agreement with Italy that will allow convicted nationals of both countries to be transferred back to serve sentences in their own country, an officer in the ministry said.
The US has refused to involve itself in the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Italy over two Italian marines who skipped bail while on trial for murder, saying it is an issue for the two nations to resolve.
An emotional Italian Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola has said that the two Italian marines who were sent back to India to face trial for the killing of Indian fishermen did so willingly.
The mother of one of the Italian marines facing trial in India for killing two Indian fishermen on Sunday said justice has been done and "everything is fine now".
In the light of Friday's Supreme Court ruling, the two Italian marines, facing murder charges in Kerala for shooting to death two fishermen off Alappuzha coast, left for New Delhi by an Air India flight.
Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were allowed to go home for two weeks by the high court, came by a special flight for Kochi at 7.50 am, airport sources said.
After celebrating Christmas with their families, the two Italian Marines, facing murder charges in Kerala, are expected to reach the state on Friday complying with the high court directive.
Giulio Terzi, who resigned as Italy's foreign minister over Rome's decision to send two marines back to India to face trial for killing Indian fishermen, says he does not "feel like a scapegoat" over his surprise move to resign, to oppose his government's U-turn on the issue.
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Centre on a plea by one of the Italian marines, facing murder charges in India, to travel to his country for medical treatment for two months.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution asking India to allow the return of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen, drawing a sharp reaction from New Delhi which termed the step not "well advised" as the matter was sub judice.
The home ministry will make a presentation before National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the status of the case related to the killing of Kerala fishermen by two Italian marines after Rome's plea for 'quick positive outcome' on the long pending issue.
Four Italian marines, who were witnesses to the killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast allegedly by two of their colleagues, will not be sent to India for deposing as witnesses, Defence Minister Mario Mauro has said.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India H L Dattu on Monday referred to another bench a plea of Massimiliano Latorre, one of the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in 2012, seeking extension of his stay in Italy on health grounds.
Italy will take up at the "international level" the trial of two marines in India for the killing of two Indian fishermen, Premier Enrico Letta has said.
Italian Marine Massimiliano Latorre, who along with a colleague is accused of killing Indian fishermen in 2012, moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking extension of his stay in Italy on medical grounds.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to deposit in its account the compensation given by Italy for the kin of two Indian fishermen killed by Italian Marines off the Kerala coast in February 2012.
The high court directed the central government counsel to file a statement in response to the plea and listed the matter for hearing after two weeks.
Hours after India decided not to prosecute two of its marines accused of killing Indian fishermen under the strict anti-piracy SUA law, Italy said the decision was the "fruit of Italian firmness".
Two Italian marines, accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast, may escape death penalty with the home ministry on Tuesday agreeing not to press for the capital punishment against them.
"It is here that the examination and trial has to be held. But a big foul play has been held in this case right from the beginning by the Centre. We were against the Centre's approach before also and we had strongly criticised it," Vijayan said.
Italy has criticised India's handling of the case of two of its marines accused of killing two Indian fisherman as "contradictory" and "disconcerting" ahead of a hearing of the case in India's Supreme Court.
Expressing concern over the delay in the trial of its marines charged with murder, Italy on Wednesday ruled out sending four seamen as witnesses in the case and sought other legal options to take forward the investigation.
The SC agreed to hear on September 20 Latorre's plea which has sought the same bail conditions applicable to co-accused Salvatore Girone.
The National Investigation Agency will file a chargesheet against two Italian marines, accused of killing two Kerala fishermen, after getting sanction to prosecute them under a law which provides only death penalty.
The Italian government will see if one of the two marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012 is fit enough to return to India, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni has said.
It further said that the Arbitral Tribunal has decided that Italy and India each shall report to it on 'compliance with these provisional measures and authorises the President to seek information from the parties if no such report is submitted within three months from the date of this order and thereafter as he may consider appropriate'.
"Italy is willing to try the marines at home, but in the meantime we ask for their freedom," said Interior Minister Angelino Alfano was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency.
The Central government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has deposited with the top court Rs 10 crore paid by the republic of Italy as compensation to the families of the two Kerala fishermen who were shot dead in 2012 by two Italian marines aboard the MV Enrica Lexie ship -- an Italian flagged oil tanker -- in lieu of closure of criminal cases against the two navy personnel in India.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has said the trial of two marines in India over the killing of two Indian fishermen has run into new "difficulty" because of upcoming general elections in that country.
A team of National Investigation Agency sleuths is likely to visit Italy to question four Italian marines, who were witnesses to the killing of two fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012, after their refusal to come to India for deposition before investigators.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to resolve within a week all disputes arising out of the issue of invoking anti-piracy law against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012.
Italy will do everything to bring back by Christmas two of its marines, who have been in India for over one-and-a-half years to face trial for killing two Indian fishermen, the country's special envoy in the case has said.
Italian Premier Matteo Renzi also expressed satisfaction with the Indian Supreme Court's decision.
The court also asked the government to appraise it of the status of international arbitration proceedings to be undertaken in pursuance of directions of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the matter on April 13, the next date of hearing.
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed one of the two Italian marines, facing murder charges in India, to travel to his country for medical treatment for four months after the Centre said that "in principle" it has no objection to the plea.
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