Fisherman killing row: Chargesheet submitted against two Italian marines

The Kerala Police on Friday submitted the charge sheet against two Italian marines in the connection of allegedly killing two Indian fishermen mistakenly off the sea in Kerala.

The police have booked two Italian security guards - Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone - on the ship 'Enrica Lexie' with murder under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and invoking the International Maritime Law.

The police have submitted a 196-page charge sheet including annexure before the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The charge sheet contained statements of sixty witnesses including the boat owner, Freddie, and more than thirty evidences. Forty-six material objects and 126 documents also formed part of the chargesheet, which mentions that the incident took place at 20.5 nautical miles from the coast.

The group commando Latorre Massimiliano has been made the prime accused followed by Salvatore Girone.

The marines, posted aboard cargo vessel Enrica Lexie, were arrested Feb 20 for allegedly shooting dead two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, after mistaking them for pirates. The incident occurred Feb 15, off Alappuzha.

Currently the accused are in judicial custody till May 25 and lodged at the Central prison in Thiruvananthapuram.

Early this month, Italian authorities reached an out of court settlement by paying Rs.10 million each to the families of the deceased fishermen and Rs.1.7 million to the boat owner J. Freddy for damaging his vessel. On May 5, the Italian vessel was allowed to sail out from Kochi.

--With IANS Inputs--