The controversial issues surrounding the trial of two Italian Marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala, India in 2012 will hopefully be resolved within a week.
The Indian Supreme Court today set a deadline of one week for all disputes surrounding the case to be settled. The Marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, are accused of killing two fishermen whom they mistakenly believed were pirates. The Marines were on board the Italian tanker, Enrica Lexie, working as a military Vessel Protection Detachment.
Despite the incident occurring on February 15th, 2012, no charge sheet has been filed against the men, who remain in India awaiting trial.
There are major concerns that should the men be charged under India’s Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf Act (SUA), the Italians could face the death penalty. The incident has seen political fallout between Italy and India and both governments now appear keen to see the situation resolved as quickly as possible.
Italy has suggested that if India did involve the SUA Act for trial, it would be tantamount to calling Italy a terrorist state.
