Munmun Kaur
Published On: February 04, 2022 at 12:52 IST
Months after the case was dropped by the Supreme Court of India, a Roman Judge on January 31, dismissed the Murder Case against the two Italian Marines who had killed two fishermen in Kerala in 2012.
As per the sources, there was not enough Evidence for Trial. Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini, in a statement, welcomed the decision of the Roman Judge for the two Marines- Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre.
The facts of the Case were that in February 2012, Girone and Latorre shot dead two unarmed fishermen while protecting an Italian oil tanker as part of an anti-piracy mission. Earlier, Italy had argued that the Marines were on international waters and had fired only after the fisherman failed to heed warnings to stay away.
Putting an end to this decade-old legal battle between India and Rome, India in April 2021 accepted a Compensation offer of 100 Million Rupees ($1.4 million, 1.1 million euros).
The Apex Court of India in June quashed the Case and directed that out of the Compensation received, 40 Million Rupees each be given to the families and the remaining 20 Million Rupees to be given to the owner of the boat.
The Supreme Court had also said that the Italian Government must start Criminal Proceedings against the two Accused Marines and that Indian authorities would provide the Evidence in the Case.
India had called it a “Double Murder at sea” and Arrested and Charged Girone and Latorre with Homicide.