New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday exempted Massimiliano Latorre, one of the Italian marines facing murder charges in India, from personal appearance before police for two weeks on medical grounds.
Latorre had last week submitted a request to the Supreme Court to allow him to return to Italy for his ‘more rapid and complete recovery' after he suffered a mild stroke.
Latorre was hospitalised with a condition similar to a mild stroke last week week and Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti also flew to check on his condition and to show support for his family members, who are with him in India.
The marine has been responding well to treatment in the neurology department after he lost consciousness due to mild cerebral ischemia, or restriction of blood supply, doctors said.
Latorre and Salvatore Girone are charged with murder of two Indian fishermen during an anti-piracy mission while guarding the privately owned Italian-flagged oil-tanker MT Enrica Lexie off the coast of Kerala on February 15, 2012.
They are living at the Italian embassy here after being detained two-and-a-half-years ago.
Rome has protested the long series of delays in the case, which has soured diplomatic ties between Italy and India.