Italian marines case: Supreme Court grants three months extension of stay to one of the two accused

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended, by another three months, stay in Italy of Massimiliano Latorre, one of the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in 2012. The court allowed his application for extension of stay on medical grounds.

A bench led by Justice Anil R Dave allowed the plea after the government supported Latorre’s plea on “humanitarian grounds.”

The Italian ambassador has been asked to furnish a fresh undertaking to this effect.

Latorre, one of the two Italian marines facing murder charges in the fishermen killing case had, on January 7, moved the apex court seeking extension of his stay in Italy on the ground that he had undergone a heart surgery on January 5.

Another bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had earlier rejected his plea for extension, asking the two marines to show some respect to the Indian legal system and allow the trial in the case begin at the earliest. This bench however had later referred the matter to a different bench.

On September 12, Latorre was allowed by the court to go to Italy for treatment after a brain stroke. His bail period expires on January 13, 2015.

He had last month moved an application seeking extension of his stay in Italy by another four months to enable him undergo a heart surgery. Another marine, Salvatore Girone had also filed a separate plea, saying he wanted to go back to the native land to spend some time with his children, who he claimed, were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, the court nixed both the applications and asked the marines to show some respect for the Indian legal system and allow the trial begin at the earliest now.

It reminded the marines that they had been accused of murder charge and the courts would not let such accused even come out on bail whereas in their case, maximum indulgence had already been shown.