Families of detained Italians visit them in Trivandrum jail

Thiruvananthapuram, April 19 (IANS) Four close family members of the two jailed Italian marines in Kerala, arrested in February this year for killing two unarmed Indian fishermen, visited them in Trivandrum Central Prison Thursday.

Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone are in judicial custody since Feb 20 and their remand period has now been extended till April 30 by a court in Kollam, where the murder case was registered.

While the wife and son of Girone arrived here, it was the sister and uncle of Massimillano who visited the prison at Trivandrum. They spent close to two hours with the marines.

Two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, were allegedly mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the two security crew of cargo vessel Enrica Lexie Feb 15, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha in Kerala.

Three ministers from Italy had earlier visited the duo and even Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is understood to have spoken to them over phone.

The two are lodged in a special room in the prison. Their request for a TV set was earlier turned down by the court.

The owners of the ship have now moved the Supreme Court for their release after the Kerala High Court asked the court in Kollam to decide if the ship needs to be let off after they furnished a security.