Dramatic Twists Of Enrica Lexie-Italian Marines Case : A Time Line Of 9 Years

The highly sensational Enrica Lexie -Italian Marines case relating to the killing of two Indian fishermen in a sea-firing incident nine years ago, which at one point sparked off diplomatic frictions between India and Italy, has attained a peaceful burial, at least as far as local proceedings are concerned.

The Supreme Court today quashed the criminal cases against the two Italian Marines --Massimilano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -accepting the additional compensation of Rupees 10 crores offered by the Republic of Italy to the victims of the 2012 sea-firing incident which took place near Kerala coast.

The Government of India urged the Court to invoke the extraordinary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash the criminal cases against Marines, as the international tribunal under the United Nations Convention on Law of Seas had ruled that India lacks the jurisdiction to criminally prosecute them. The Union Government told the Court that it has decided to accept the international award and also Italy's offer to pay additional compensation of Rupees 10 crores to the victims.

The case has witnessed dramatic twists and turns, and even became an election issue in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, with the then PM-candidate Narendra Modi accusing the the Central Government of failing to protect the interests of Indian victims against Italian authorities.

Here is a brief time-line of the case:

February 15, 2012

A fishing boat 'St. Antony' set sail from Neendakara harbor in Kollam district in Kerala.

At about 4.30 PM, at a distance of about 20.5 nautical miles from the coastline, the boat happened to pass "Erica Lexie", a tanker flying the Italian Flag. Two marines aboard the ship - Massimilano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - mistook 'St Antony' for a pirate boat, and opened fire at it. This resulted in the death of two fishermen - Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki.

February 16, 2012

Enrica Lexie continued its sail, as if nothing happened. When the vessel had proceeded about 38 nautical miles on the High Seas towards Djibouti, it received a message from the Maritime Rescue Co - ordination Centre, Mumbai, asking it to return to Cochin Port to assist with the enquiry into the incident. Responding to the message, the ship altered its course and came to Cochin Port on 16th February, 2012. Upon docking in Cochin, the Master of the vessel was informed that an First Information Report (FIR) had been lodged with the Circle Inspector, Neendakara, Kollam, Kerala, under S.302 read with S.34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in respect of the firing incident leading to the death of the two Indian fishermen.

February 19, 2012

Two marines were arrested by the Circle Inspector of Police, Coastal Police Station, Neendakara, Kollam, from the vessel.

February-March 2012

Admirality Suits are filed in the Kerala High Court by the heirs of the deceased fishermen seeking compensation from the vessel 'Enrica Lexie'.

'Enrica Lexie' files writ petition in the High Court seeking permission to continue the voyage. A single bench allows the writ petition, permitting the vessel to continue its voyage. Doramma, wife of late Jalestine, challenges the single bench order before division bench. Division Bench sets aside the single bench order and asks the vessel to approach the jurisdictional magistrate under Section 457 CrPC seeking permission to travel.

Enrica Lexie approaches Supreme Court against the Division Bench order.

April 2012

The admirality suits filed by the heirs of the deceased and the victims reach out-of-court settlement, with Republic of Italy offering compensation to them. The family members of the deceased -- Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki - reached a compromise with Italian authorities and each accepted Rs one crore compensation. The owner of the boat, Freddie, also settled his compensation suit accepting Rupees 17 lakhs from the ship authorities.

Republic of Italy files writ petition before the Supreme Court under Article 32 challenging the criminal jurisdiction exercised by India against the Marines.

May 2012

Supreme Court allows Enrica Lexie to leave India, with the remaining crew(other than the two accused Marines). The Court asked the owner of the vessel to execute a bond of Rupeees 3 crores before the High Court of Kerala undertaking to produce the vessel and ensure the appearance of the crew as and when called by the police or the trial court. Republic of Italy assured the Supreme Court that it if the need for the presence of the remaining crew arises during the investigation or the trial, it will ensure the same.

(Order date 02.05.2012 in C.A 4167/202 by bench comprising Justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale).

January 2013

A division bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and J Chelameswar delivers in the case Republic of Italy and others vs Union of India and others(WP(c) 135/2012).

India's criminal jurisdiction over the Marines was upheld. The Court did not accept Italy's argument of sovereign immunity.

At the same time, the Court held that State of Kerala has no jurisdiction to investigate into the incident. This was on the reasoning that only Union Government had jurisdiction over Contigous Zone under the Maritime Zones Act.

The Union of India was, therefore, directed, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, to set up a Special Court to try the case. The pending proceedings before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kollam, were ordered to be transferred to the Special Court to be constituted in terms of the judgment.

The judgment also reserved the right of Italy to raise the issue of exclusive jurisdiction over marines before the Special Court in terms of Article 100 of the UNCLOS, which speaks of rights of States to take special measures to combat privacy.

Following the judgment, the investigation of the case was taken over by National Investigation Agency from Kerala police. The trial was transferred to a special court set up in New Delhi.

February-March 2013 : Diplomatic tensions

In February 2013, the SC had allowed the marines to go to Italy for a brief period to vote in the general elections. Italy later went back on its undertaking that it will ensure the return of marines after the period of stay allowed by the SC.

This triggered a diplomatic stand-off, with India restraining the then Italian ambassador, Daniele Mincini, from leaving the country. Following diplomatic pressures, Italy returned the marines to India in March 2013.

September 2014 : One of the Marines seeks permission to go to Italy for treatment

July 2020 : Permanent Court of Arbitration delivers award; asks India to drop prosecution; Italy to compensate

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, in Enrica Lexie case, unanimously holds that India is entitled to claim compensation from Italy. It also held (by 3:2 majority) that the Marines are entitled to immunity in relation to the acts that they committed during the incident of 15 February 2012, and that India is precluded from exercising its jurisdiction over the Marines.

Decided to accept PCA Award, Centre tells Supreme Court

Soon after the award was passed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Union Government files an application in the Supreme Court saying that it has decided to accept the award. The Centre urged the Court to close the pending cases in the light of the award.

August 2020 : Will not quash the cases without hearing the victims

A Supreme Court bench led by the then CJI SA Bobde tells the Central Government that the cases against the marines will be quashed only after hearing the victims. Notice issued to the victims.

August 2020 : Permanent Court of Arbitration publishes the reasons for its award (may be read here)

April 2021 : Additional compensation negotiated as Rs 10 crores, Centre tells Supreme Court

The Centre informs the Supreme Court that following negotiations, Republic of Italy has agreed to pay additional compensation of Rupees 10 crores. Kerala Government informs the Court that the victims were agreeable to the amount (Rupees 4 crores each to the families to two deceased fishermen, 2 crores to the boat owner).

Supreme Court says that it will quash the cases only after the compensation amount is deposited before it. Centre agrees to deposit the amount with the Supreme Court registry as soon as it is received from Italy.

June 2021 : Italy deposits the amount; Court quashes cases against Marines

On June 15, 2021, a vacation bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and MR Shah passes an order quashing the criminal cases pending against the marines.