Kochi:
The Kerala government has opposed the bail pleas of two Italian marines, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15.
The Government counsel informed the court that if the accused were released on bail at this stage, their presence could not be procured.
The marines -- Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone - had contended that they had not committed any offence as alleged by the police and that there was no justification in continuing their custody.
Earlier, their bail plea was rejected by a lower court in Kollam.
The naval guards were arrested on February 19 and charged with the murder of fishermen Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki, who put out to sea from Neendakara in Kollam.
The marines, lodged in central prison in Thiruvananthapuram since March 5, have been shifted to Borstal school in Kochi which houses juvenile offenders.
The Government counsel informed the court that if the accused were released on bail at this stage, their presence could not be procured.
The marines -- Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone - had contended that they had not committed any offence as alleged by the police and that there was no justification in continuing their custody.
Earlier, their bail plea was rejected by a lower court in Kollam.
The naval guards were arrested on February 19 and charged with the murder of fishermen Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki, who put out to sea from Neendakara in Kollam.
The marines, lodged in central prison in Thiruvananthapuram since March 5, have been shifted to Borstal school in Kochi which houses juvenile offenders.
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