International tribunal to decide on Marines' trial

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) will deliver its order on whether to accept Italy’s plea to restrain India from taking any judicial or administrative action against two Italian marines involved in the murder of two Malayali fishermen.

Judge Vladimir Golitsyn, President of the Tribunal, will read the order after the public hearing in the case was held on August 10 and 11.

Italy had requested the Tribunal to order India to refrain from taking or enforcing any judicial or administrative measures against Massimiliano Latorre and Sergeant Salvatore Girone in connection with the ship “Enrica Lexie” incident and from exercising any other form of jurisdiction.

It also wanted India to take all measures necessary to ensure that restrictions on liberty, security and movement of marines be immediately lifted to enable Girone to travel
to and remain in Italy and Latorre to remain in Italy throughout the duration of the proceedings before the Annex VII Tribunal.

However, India requested the Tribunal “to reject the submissions made by Italy in its request for the prescription of provisional measures and refuse prescription of any provisional measures in the present case”.