Accused Italian marine returns home from India

By Baris Seckin

ROME (AA) - An Italian marine was sent home from India late Saturday, pending a verdict on where he should be tried for killing two local fishermen.

Salvatore Girone, who has been in India for four years, was sent home through a Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling.

His long-running case has soured ties between India and Italy.

With the decision, the Indian government let Girone go to Rome "until the conclusion of the trial is reached".

The marine, one of the two accused in the incident, returned his home in Bari, southern Italy via a special jet.

In February 2012, Italian marines Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Lattore, hired to protect an oil tanker, allegedly killed two Indian fishermen they say they thought were pirates.

Latorre was allowed to return to Italy in 2014 for health reasons.

Since the incident, the Italian government has sought to bring the marines back to Italy and continue their trial on an international platform, whereas India insisted they have the jurisdiction to try the two men.