Indian investigators may travel to Italy on marines case

(ANSA) – New Delhi, October 10 – The Indian government is considering sending a team of police investigators to Rome to gather additional testimony in an investigation involving two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen while on anti-piracy duty last year, according to local media reports.

The probe has stalled over the need to hear four witnesses – fellow marines who are thought to have seen what happened the night two of their comrades allegedly killed the two Indian fishermen – and Indian authorities are evaluating a team from the local Nia investigative police to hear what they have to say, according to the Economic Times. Italy in the past has maintained the presence of the four marines was not necessary in India to determine what happened in February 2012, saying they could be interviewed long-distance by video-call or by visiting Indian authorities in Italy. Marines Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre are currently in India, accused of murder in the shooting deaths of two fishermen in February 2012. The pair allegedly mistook the fishermen for pirates.