Italian marines' plea: SC notice to centre, Kerala

The Supreme Court Thursday issued notice to the central and Kerala governments on the plea of the Italian government and its two marines seeking a stop on their trial in the killing of two fishermen off Kerala coast.

The petitions have also sought the quashing of charges against the two marines. The court also issued notice to the Kerala Police. Chief Master Sergeant Massimilano Latorre and Sergeant Salvatore Girone had shot dead two Indian fishermen 15 Feb, allegedly suspecting them to be pirates.

The apex court bench of Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice J. Chelameswar issued notice on the mentioning of the petition by the marines. The Kerala High Court earlier dismissed their petition. The high court while rejecting their plea had slapped a fine of Rs.1 lakh each. While issuing the notice, the apex court declined to grant interim stay of the trial court proceedings against the two marines in Kerala. As senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the Italian government, pleaded for the stay of the trial court proceedings, the apex court said that it would have to hear the central and state governments before deciding the plea. The court would next hear the case 8 Aug. The court, for now, declined to accept the plea by Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising, appearing for the central government, to issue notice to two widows of the fishermen killed by the Italian marines.

The court said that it would do so at a later stage, if needed.