India's Supreme Court has decided to postpone until July a hearing in the case of two Italian marines facing possible trial for murder, sources at the Italian embassy in New Delhi told Adnkronos.
All hearings from 15 May onwards are being postponed until after 1 July when the top court resumes following the summer recess, the sources said.
The Italian marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are appealing against the use of India's anti-terrorism police (NIA) to investigate the case in which they allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the southern Indian coast while on an anti-piracy mission.
Latorre and Girone say they mistook the fishermen for pirates and only fired warning shots into the water.
They argue that the NIA no longer has jurisdiction over the incident after Indian authorities dropped plans to try them under the country's anti-terrorism act following an Italian appeal.
In its July hearing the Supreme Court will also consider an appeal for the SUA anti-terrorism Act to be reapplied to Latorre and Girone.
The SUA Act calls for the automatic application of the death penalty in case of conviction for murder.
Italy argues that the marines should not be tried in India as the incident occurred in international waters.
The case caused a major diplomatic row between Italy and India and a series of delays in the to start of the marines' trial has caused continuing friction between the two countries.
Latorre is on leave Italy until 15 July for medical treatment after suffering a stroke last summer. Girone is currently detained at the Italian embassy in New Delhi, awaiting trial.
