KOLLAM: The magistrate’s court here on Thursday extended by seven days the police custody of two Italian marines, charged with murder of two fishermen off Alappuzha coast on February 15. The court also accepted defence counsel’s plea seeking the presence of representatives of the Italian Government during the ballistic examination of the weapons in the ship. However, it made it clear that this cannot be considered as a joint probe.Approving the plea made by the probe team, Judicial Magistrate of Kollam First Class Court I Doney Thomas Varghese extended the police custody of Latorre Massimilano and Salvatore Girone till March 1.The two marines, escorted by Consul-General of Italy in Mumbai Giampaolo Cutillo, Italian Military Attaché and investigation officers, were produced in the court amid tight security.While the three-day police custody was to end on Thursday, the investigating officer, CI of Coastal Police, Neendakara, moved an application seeking more time as the investigation team could not collect evidence and seize weapons, as the vessel is anchored 6.5 nautical miles off Fort Kochi.The presence of the accused is important during the process, the application said.The only argument from defence counsel, represented by B Ramanpillai, Sunil Kumar and Abhijit Singh, was seeking the presence of Italian Govt representatives while conducting the collection of evidence from the ship.Assistant Public Prosecutor Majula Itty told reporters that the presence of Italian representatives was not objected as it would lead to greater transparency in the case.The court stated that it be informed about the names of the representatives at the earliest and only they will be allowed to be present during the investigation. The court also clarified that such a move does not make the probe a joint operation.The marines were taken back to Kochi by 5.15 pm.
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