Dutch Court To Rule In November On MH17 Downing
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published August 15, 2022 | 05:20 PM
The Hague, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Aug, 2022 ) :Dutch judges will deliver their verdict on November 17 in the trial of four suspects accused of downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, a court said Monday.
Three Russians and a Ukrainian, who all remain at large, are accused of supplying the missile that intercepted the jet as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board.
The trial began in March 2020 at a high-security court near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, from where the doomed Boeing 777 had taken off. Prosecutors have demanded life sentences.
"November 17, 2022 has been chosen as the provisional ruling date in the MH17 criminal trial," the court said in a statement.
The decision "will take a part of the day and will probably take place in the afternoon." Prosecutors say the plane was shot down on July 17, 2014, by a Russian-made BUK missile, fired from territory in eastern Ukraine occupied by pro-Moscow separatists.
The trial is being held in the Netherlands, following a huge international investigation, because most of the victims were Dutch citizens.
But the case has taken on renewed significance after Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine in which a slew of new war crimes are being alleged.
Dutch prosecutors in December called for life terms for all four of the men on trial: Russians Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko.
Pulatov is the only accused with legal representation and all four have refused to appear in court, insisting they are innocent.
Prosecutors allege the four played pivotal roles in securing the BUK system, which was most likely intended to shoot down a Ukrainian warplane.
Girkin also known by his pseudonym "Strelkov", is the most high-profile suspect -- a former Russian spy who helped kickstart the conflict in Ukraine in 2014, and has been vocal about the current war.
International investigators said the BUK missile was originally brought from a Russian military base, ostensibly to be used in the fight against Ukrainian forces.
Pulatov's lawyers said prosecutors failed to show that a Russian-supplied BUK brought down the jetliner, saying there were "gaps" in the prosecution's case.
They said the prosecution could not prove its theory based on tapped telephone conversations, images and witness statements that it was indeed the missile that caused MH17 to crash, asking judges to acquit their client.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Delegation of international investors meets Finance Minister
Federal Govt stands with Balochistan for its development: Naqvi
UAE President receives condolences of Prime Minister of Pakistan over passing of ..
ECC approves to enhance wheat procurement targets
UN urges Israel to 'stop escalation' as tanks enter Gaza's Rafah city
EU stumps up $125 mn for Yemen after aid groups' plea
Governor Tessori condemns May 9 riots, calls it a 'pre-planned conspiracy'
PM condoles with UAE President over Sheikh Tahnoun’s death
Milan nets Giro 4th stage, Pogacar retains lead
UBS back in profit after Credit Suisse takeover losses
Asiya Gul lauds Shafaat's services as DG LG
President for dialogue with all political forces in Balochistan
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
3 days ago -
Land degradation: A threat to food security
3 days ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
3 days ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
4 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
5 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
7 days ago
-
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
7 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
9 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
10 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
10 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
10 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
12 days ago