SC adjourns hearing on Italian marines` plea till Feb 3

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned hearing on Italian marines` plea till February 3, stating the government has said that it was trying to resolve the issue. The apex court was today due to take up the plea filed by the two Italian marines, who are accused of murdering two Indian fishermen. In their plea, the marines have asked for dropping of charges against them while also highlighting the delay in trial. The special court hearing the case was supposed to conclude the trial in a year. The SC had on January 18 last year ruled that the Kerala government did not have any independent jurisdiction over the two Italian marines. It said only the Union of India could try the two marines, and ordered the setting up of a special court. Italian marines Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre have been under detention for nearly two years on suspicion of killing two fisherman off the coast of Kerala in February 2012. Italy is planning to ask India to send the marines home, pending formal charges and a trial, a diplomat said.