President Sergio Mattarella on
Wednesday received Italian marine Salvatore Girone and his wife
and children at the Quirinal palace in Rome, the head of State's
office said. Girone is accused with fellow marine Massimilano
Latorre of killing two Indian fishermen during an anti-piracy
mission in 2012.
He returned to Italy from India last month after a UN
tribunal in the Hague ruled he should be allowed to return home
for the duration of an international arbitration procedure into
the case. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy after he
had a stroke in 2014.
"I've always felt Italy near to me," Girone said after
Wednesday's meeting.
Italy argues the marines should have immunity as they were
servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have
jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial
waters.
Italy took the case to international tribunal after
repeated delays in the handling of the case in India.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
