Rome: A court in Rome has acquitted the Italian sailors accused of the shooting death of two fishermen off the coast of Kerala. Sailors Salvatore Giron and Massimiliano Latorre were released. The apex court had quashed the case against the sailors after awarding them Rs.10 crore in damages but had asked the Italian government to continue criminal proceedings against the sailors. The apex court said India would provide the necessary evidence. The case is being reassigned to another court in Rome.
A judge in Rome on Monday ruled that the murder charge against them was baseless and dropped the case. The prosecution argued that there was no evidence against the sailors and therefore no trial was required. The court upheld the case. Italy’s defense minister has also issued a statement welcoming the court’s action.
The sailors were assigned to protect the oil tanker Enrica Lexi from pirates. The incident took place on February 15, 2012. Jalastin from Kollam and Ajesh Binki from Tamil Nadu were shot dead by fishermen on the St. Anthony boat. The incident took place at sea near Alappuzha within Indian waters. At Lakshadweep, the Coast Guard intercepted the Enrica Lexi and arrested the sailors after they were brought to the Kochi port by the Kerala Police. They were charged with murder.
The case was settled out of court in April 2021, after a long legal battle. Out of `10 crore,` 4 crores was given to the families of the deceased fishermen and `2 crores to the owner of St. Anthony’s boat.
