Boat owner moves HC for out-of-court deal

KOCHI: Freddy, the owner of the fishing boat which was involved in the Enrica Lexie shooting incident, on Thursday approached the Kerala High Court seeking the transfer of his compensation suit, which is pending before the HC now, to the Permanent Lok Adalat to reach an out-of-court settlement with the Republic of Italy.  Freddy, who was the captain of the ill-fated boat ‘St Antony’, submitted that he proposed to reach an out-of-court settlement with Italy.He is also the prime witness in the criminal case registered against the two marines, Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone, who allegedly fired at the fishing boat off Neendakara coast on February 15. Express had reported on Wednesday that the boat owner was ready for an out-of-court settlement.The Italian team has offered a compensatory amount of `17 lakh to Freddy. As per the settlement deal, Freddy will withdraw the case against Italy and the marines. Freddy also filed an application to implead the Italian government as a respondent in the admiralty suits filed by him for compensation for facilitating the settlement process. “In the wake of the directions issued by the Division Bench of the HC, mediation talks were held between me and the officers representing Italy and there has arisen the possibility of an out-of-court settlement,” Freddy said. The High Court will consider the petitions on Friday.