7 Years Later, Trial In Downing Of Malaysia MH17 Begins

Almost seven years after the downing of passenger flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, the main trial is now due to begin on June 8 in the Netherlands.

Presiding Judge, Hendrik Steenhuis announced in the southern town of Gilze-Rijen on Wednesday.

The court had inspected the reconstructed wreckage of the plane at an air force base at the site.

The Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over contested territory on July 17, 2014, presumably by a Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile.

All 298 people on board were killed.

The presiding judge spoke of an emotional moment for the families.

“This is about the plane their loved ones were traveling on to a destination they never reached,’’ he said.

Relatives were able to watch the local court hearing via a live stream.

International experts had reconstructed the Boeing from the wreckage, which showed that the missile had exploded on the left side.

Four men, three Russians, and one Ukrainian were accused of shooting down the plane and killing 298 people.

After years of investigation, the trial had initially started in 2020, with involved parties working out procedural issues.