Italian marines want to go home for Christmas

The two Italian marines, currently on bail here in connection with the killing of two Indian fishermen in February, submitted a petition Friday asking that they be allowed to go home for Christmas.

Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, who were granted bail on May 30, have sought a relaxation in their bail conditions that specify that that they have to submit their travel documents and not leave the Kochi police commissioner's jurisdiction.

They are allowed to travel to Kollam where their case is being heard.

In their petition to the high court, they asked for permission to go home to be with their families for Christmas.

The court is likely to take up the petition Monday.

Police had earlier told the court that it would oppose any relaxation in the bail conditions because there was no guarantee they would return.

Massimillano and Girone, who are staying in a hotel here, were allegedly involved in the killing of two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki and Gelastine, on Feb 15. They were allegedly mistaken as pirates and shot dead off Alappuzha by the marines, who were serving as the security crew aboard the Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie.