Relatives visit Italian marines in prison

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid emotional scenes, close family members of the two Italian marines, charged with gunning down two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast, today met their kin at the central prison here, where they have been detained under judicial remand for the last two months.
The five-member team, who came all the way from Italy, included parents and wife of Salvatore Girone, one of the naval guards of the ship Enrica Lexie.
A sister and a nephew of Latore Massmiliano, the other accused in the case, also came.
According to prison officials, the meeting, which took place at the prison superintendent's room, witnessed emotional scenes as they hugged each other and exchanged words of reassurance.
They spent about 90 minutes with their kin and told mediapersons that they were very sad such fate had befallen their dear ones. They expressed satisfaction at the facilities in the jail and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families of the two fishermen.
They, however, said they had no plan to visit the family members of the deceased fishermen.
Police said the visitors would be in the state for the next 10 days.
The two marines were arrested on February 19 and charged with murder of Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki, who took to sea on the boat St Antony from Neendakara in Kollam.
Enrica Lexie is still anchored off Kochi Port as the Kerala High Court has not permitted the vessel to leave coast.