Firing victims kin withdraw cases

KOCHI: The High Court has approved the compensation settlement made between the legal heirs of two fishermen killed in the Enrica Lexie firing and the Republic of Italy.    Doramma, wife of Valentine, one of the victims and sisters of Ajeesh Pink, the other victim, submitted in the court that they had signed an agreement with the Republic of Italy before the Lok Adalat and hence the matter has been settled. The Adalat Bench held that it was satisfied that the settlement is beneficial to the victims’ kin. The Adalat bench passed the award and sent it back to the High Court. Justice A M Shaffique recorded the submissions and disposed of the case. The court also directed the petitioners to file memo regarding the withdrawal of all the cases they had filed before various courts. During the hearing of the case before the HC,  the counsel for the vessel owner submitted that they had furnished Rs 3 crore as bank guarantee against the compensation claims of the two petitioners. The court asked the High Court Registrar to return the DD to vessel owners in the wake of the settlement.  Meanwhile, the High Court accepted the petitioners’ application to withdraw the affidavits and submissions made by them against Italy’s plea to quash the FIR registered against the marines. Justice P S Gopinathan allowed the petition stating that they are not going ahead with pleadings and submissions in view of the settlement.The legal heirs had impleaded themselves in the original petition filed by two marines Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone challenging the FIR.