Italian marines allowed to go home for Christmas

Kerala High Court on Thursday allowed the two Italian marines, accused of killing two Indian fishermen, to join their families for Christmas.

The court gave a bail for two weeks but on condition that they leave the country after handing over Rs 6 crore as a bank guarantee to the court.

The court ruled that the Indian government should agree to allow them to return to Italy for Christmas, and ensure that the Italian government assured that the two would return to stand trial in India.

The marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, should return latest by 3 pm, January 10.

The two marines were aboard a cargo ship in February when they opened fire on a fishing boat they mistook for a pirate craft and killed the Indian fishermen.

The Kerala government had strongly opposed any sort of relaxation, noting that there was no guarantee that once they reach Italy, the two will return to stand trial.

Reportedly, a special aircraft landed in Kochi on Friday morning with top Italian officials to take back the two marines.

"Yes, the two Italian marines will return after they spend Christmas at home," the Italian consul general told reporters.

According to an AFP report, Italian defence minister Giampaolo Di Paolo visited the two marines last Sunday and made a public appeal for the men to be allowed home to spend Christmas with their families.

The two marines had been living in Kochi under court orders not to leave the town.