Marines cleared of murdering Indian fishermen

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 31 - A Rome preliminary investigations judge (GIP) on Monday acquitted two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off India after mistaking them for pirates in 2012.
    The GIP's ruling had been expected after prosecutor in December asked the charges against Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre to be dropped in the deaths of Valentine Jelastine and Ajeesh Pink.
    The marines were doing anti-piracy duty aboard the merchant ship Enrica Lexie in February 2012 off the coast of Kerala, southern India, when they fired on the Indian fishing boat.
    The GIP ruled, like the prosecutors, that they acted while respecting the rules of engagement.
    He said they were convinced they were under assault from pirates.
    In 2020 Italy got jurisdiction in the case after a long wrangle with India.
    A Hague tribunal ordered the payment of 1.1 million euros to the two fishermen's families last June. (ANSA).