Italian marines return to India

The Italian marines awaiting trial for the murder of  Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates have set off back for India following Christmas in Italy.

Italian marines suspected of murder return to India

Rome: Two Italian marines suspected of murdering two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates set off back for India on Friday after a court-granted Christmas leave at home with their families.

The marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who are awaiting trial in India and are also under investigation in Italy, were questioned by prosecutors in Rome for five hours before boarding a special military flight from Ciampino airport bound for the Indian state of Kerala.

Indian prosecutors had voiced fears that the men would not return from their leave in Italy. The flight is expected to land in India early on Friday.

“They are keeping their word and will return to India with the hope that the case will be over quickly,” Girone’s wife, Vania, said earlier.

The marines allegedly shot the fishermen off India’s southwestern coast near Kochi in February 2012 when the men’s fishing boat came close to the Italian oil tanker they were guarding.

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Source: The Week.