Fishermen killing: Italy hopes for SC reprieve for sick marine

ROME: Italy's foreign minister has appealed to India's Supreme Court to permit one of the two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012 to return home for health reasons.

The marine, 47-year-old Massimiliano Latorre, "was treated excellently in India, but it is clear that he needs rest, peace, and his family," Federica Mogherini said on the eve of the Supreme Court hearing to consider the marine's case.

"We hope that India's Supreme Court will listen to the medical arguments," Mogherini said.

She said, the Italian government fully supports the initiative of the defence lawyers, who have submitted an application to allow Latorre to return to Italy.

"We hope he will be able to return to Italy for the entire time he needs to fully recover," Mogherini, who is set to become the EU foreign policy chief, was quoted as saying by Italian media on the sidelines of a conference.

Latorre was hospitalised with a condition similar to a mild stroke and was discharged today from a hospital in New Delhi.

The sick marine had been responding well to treatment after he lost consciousness due to a mild cerebral ischemia, or restriction of blood supply.

Latorre and Salvatore Girone have been held in India since allegedly shooting to death fishermen and Ajesh Binki during an anti-piracy mission in February, 2012 off the Kerala coast, an incident that sparked diplomatic tensions between India and Italy.

The marines, deployed on the Italian-flagged oil tanker MT Enrica Lexie, said they mistook the fishermen for pirates. They are now staying at the Italian Embassy in New Delhi awaiting trial.

India has removed the possibility of a death penalty but insisted that the marines would still be prosecuted under the anti-piracy law. Now, they face up to 10 years in jail.

Rome wants the marines to be tried in Italy, claiming the incident took place in international waters. However, New Delhi says it has the right to try the Italians as the victims were Indians on board an Indian fishing boat.

Italy argues that the case sets dangerous and wide-ranging precedents for any country involved in anti-piracy missions overseas.

Italy has said it may also seek international arbitration in the case.