HC reserves orders on marines petition

Kerala High Court today reserved for orders the petition of two Italian marines, arrested from a merchant vessel in connection with the shooting to death of two Indian fishermen off Kerala waters in February this year, seeking translated copies of police report and case documents.

The court had earlier stayed till Aug 8 the proceedings pending before the Kollam Sessions court against them. The marines - Latore Masimiliano and Salvatore Girone - had approached the court challenging the July 17 sessions court order that they were not eligible for translated version of the police report and other documents pertaining to the case.

The government today submitted that even though there was provision for giving a copy of chargesheet to the accused, there was no provision to give translated version.

Justice C T Ravikumar then reserved orders in the petition. The government had earlier contended that prosecution had no legal obligation to provide an interpreter in case involving foreign nationals who are not conversant with the court language of the country.

The two marines, engaged for security of the Italian vessel Enrical Lexie, were arrested on February 19 for allegedly opening fire and killing fishermen Jalestine and Ajesh Binki, who had ventured out to sea from Neendakara with nine others.

On May 30, the Kerala High Court had granted them bail with stringent conditions and they are staying here.