A day after Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi categorically made clear that the two Italian Marines - Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre - who were under detention here in the fishermen shootout case, will not return to India, City Express revisits the Enrica Lexie episode.
During their 10-month-long detention in Kerala, the marines first stayed in the guest house of the Central Industries Security Force in Willingdon Island. Later they were taken to the Poojapura Central prison in Thiruvananthapuram.
After a short stint there, the duo were shifted to Borstal School at Kakkanad. Out on bail within a couple of days, the marines moved to Hotel Trident in Willingdon Island. As per the bail conditions, they were asked to appear at the City Commissioner office every day.
The duo fully enjoyed their stay as they were found at trade fairs and cultural programmes in the city. The duo cycling through the streets was an everyday morning sight for Fort Kochiites.
After a few months they moved to Hotel Brunton Boatyard in Fort Kochi and later to Hotel Eighth Bastion. In December 2012, they approached the High Court seeking one-week vacation for Christmas, which the HC granted. They left for Italy in the last week of December.
The marines returned to Kochi well before the deadline. Within a few weeks, the Supreme Court quashed the FIR in the case and ordered the Union Government to set up a special court for trial in the case. Both the marines along with Italian Delegate left for New Delhi in January this year.
In February, the Marines approached Supreme Court seeking another one-month vacation for casting votes for the presidential election in Italy. The request was promptly granted and two left for their home country.
However, on Monday Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi declared that the marines would not be sent back to India after the end of their vacation.