Investigation into Italian marines' murder of 2 Indian fishermen dismissed
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An investigation into the killing of 2 Indian fishermen by 2 Italian marines has been dismissed by an Italian judge.
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The two Italian marines: Salvatore Girone and Massamiliano Latorre (AP)
On Monday, an Italian judge dismissed the investigation into 2 Italian marines who had killed 2 fishermen in Kerala, India, in 2012. This comes after India's top court dropped the case.
The Italian Minister of Defense, Lorenzo Guerini, praised the "positive outcome" which let the two marines off the hook: Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre.
The decision was followed by an assessment conducted by prosecutors in January, which came to the conclusion that there was not enough evidence for a trial.
"This brings to an end a years-long event during which the defense ministry has never left the two marines and their families on their own," Guerini said.
In February 2012, Girone and Latorre shot two unarmed fishermen off the south of the Indian coast as they were protecting an Italian oil tanker as part of an anti-piracy mission.
Relations between India and Italy were in shambles for some 10 years - however, in 2021, India welcomed a compensation of $1.4 million. India's Supreme Court allocated 40 million rupees ($536,389) will be allocated to the families of the victims in addition to 20 million rupees being allocated to the owner of the boat used by the fishermen.
Despite this, the court said that the Italian government must start criminal proceedings against the marines in parallel with New Delhi's provision of evidence.
The alibi
Italy's argument was that their marines were in international waters and had opened fire on the fishing boat because the fishermen had failed to register to stay away.
India called it a "double murder at sea," arresting and charging Girone and Latorre with homicide. The two marines are part of the San Marco Marine regiment.
The Hague, which reviewed the case in 2015, last year said that the marines are entitled to immunity.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) allowed Girone, who was stuck in the Italian embassy in New Delhi, to return to Italy, whereas his mate, Latorre, had returned home two years earlier.
