India's top court allows Italian marine to stay in Italy

India's apex court on Wednesday allowed Massimiliano Latorre — one of the two Italian marines facing murder trial — to stay in his homeland till the international arbitral tribunal decides the jurisdictional issue between the two countries, said Indian channels.

Latorre, along with fellow marine Salvatore Girone, is accused of killing two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates in 2012.

The court ruled all the conditions that were imposed on Girone would also be applicable to Latorre.

Latorre returned to Italy after suffering a stroke in 2014 and has since stayed there. In 2016 April, the court had allowed Latorre to further delay his return.

In May 2016 the court also allowed Girone to return to Italy.

The dispute has strained relations between India and Italy and its European Union partners.

In an effort to end four years of legal wrangling, both countries have moved their dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Italy argues that the case should not be heard in India because the incident occurred in international waters. India has said it remains confident the tribunal will decide in its favour.

(Reuters)