Delay in trial of Italian marines as witnesses don't appear

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Aug 05 2013 | 6:55 PM IST
The trial against two Italian marines, who allegedly killed Indian fishermen off Kerala coast, will be delayed as a few foreign witnesses of the case have not yet appeared before investigators for questioning.
The witnesses were on board the Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie' when the marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone had allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.
Sources said three of the witnesses were questioned by the National Investigation Agency, which is probing the case following a Supreme Court order, but a few others have not yet appeared before the investigators despite serving notices.
"It is not clear when the remaining witnesses will be available for questioning. It seems they will take some time," a Home Ministry official said, indicating delay in trial of the case.
The Supreme Court had shifted the case to the national capital saying the Kerala Police have no jurisdiction over the case and backed the government's decision to hand over the case to NIA.
Italy had claimed since the incident had taken place in international water, Indian courts have no jurisdiction to conduct the trial.
However, the Supreme Court had ruled that the incident took place at a distance of about 20.5 nautical miles from the coastline of Kerala and, therefore, it occurred not within the territorial waters of the coastline of Kerala state but within the Contiguous Zone.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 05 2013 | 6:55 PM IST

Next Story