NEW DELHI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court Monday ruled that Italy's Ambassador Daniele Mancini has no "legal immunity" in this country in the wake of Rome's refusal to send back two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of the southern state of Kerala last year.
"A person who comes to court and gives an undertaking has no immunity," a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, said, adding that the Supreme Court has "lost trust" in the Italian envoy. It also reiterated its last week's order restraining him to leave India till April 2, the next date of hearing.
In fact, the apex court had earlier allowed the two marines -- Massimilian Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- to go to Italy to cast their votes in that country's recent general election on an assurance from Mancini that the duo would return after four weeks. But last week, Rome refused to send back the two marines to face trial in a special court to be set up in the Indian capital soon.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last week warned Italy of "consequences on bilateral relations" if the marines did not return to face trial, saying Rome's behavior was "unacceptable".
The two marines are accused of shooting dead the two India fishermen off Kerala coast in February 2012, after allegedly mistaking them for pirates. They were last year arrested by the police in Kerala and subsequently released on bail.
The incident has sparked diplomatic row between the two countries. While Italy says that the duo should be tried in an international court, India insists the shooting took place in its territorial waters and so the marines should be tried in this country.
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