New Delhi: One of two Italian marines accused of murdering fishermen off the coast of Kerala almost four years ago will not be returning to India to face trial after being allowed home temporarily for medical treatment, a key senator said on Tuesday.
Massimiliano Latorre was allowed by the Supreme Court in September 2014 to go to Italy initially for four months after he had suffered a brain stroke. His stay there was extended subsequently.
"Massimiliano Latorre will not return to India, and furthermore, the possibility of asking for Salvatore Girone's return is being explored," senator Nicola Latorre, head of senate's defence committee, was quoted as saying by Italy's ANSA news agency.
Girone, the second sailor on trial, is being held in the Italian embassy in New Delhi.
The Supreme Court on July 13, 2015 had allowed Latorre to stay in Italy for another six months on medical grounds, after the government did not object to his plea.
The six- month period ends on Wednesday and the matter may come up for hearing in the apex court.
The marines, who were on board ship 'Enrica Lexie', are accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012 after mistaking them for pirates.
The Supreme Court which was handling the case suspended the court proceedings relating to the trial of two marines in August 2015 following an order to this effect by International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which was approached by Italy for international arbitration.
With inputs from agencies
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