Malaysia Airlines flight MH17: Defence says missile theory unproven as trial wraps

Lawyers told judges there were ‘holes’ in the prosecution’s case because they were too focused only on proving separatists used a Russian-supplied BUK missile

Court said a verdict in the trial of the accused four men is not expected until at least November. All four men deny any involvement in downing of the plane

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Published: 10:40am, 10 Jun 2022

Dutch lawyers for a suspect accused of downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 said prosecutors failed to prove a Russian-made missile brought down the jetliner, as they wrapped up their case on Thursday.

The passenger jet was shot down while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014 killing all 298 on board, as Kyiv’s forces battled pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s war-torn east.

The trial of four men, which started in March 2020, has taken on a new significance since Russia’s late February invasion of its neighbour, in which a slew of new war crimes are being alleged.

“To conclude, the prosecution failed to prove from tapped [mobile] conversations, images and witness statements that this was the missile that downed MH17,” said Sabine ten Doesschate, who represents suspect Oleg Pulatov.

“And even if a missile was launched, it cannot be proven conclusively this was the missile that hit MH17.”

Prosecutors in December called for life sentences for the four men allegedly involved: Russian nationals Pulatov, Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky as well as Ukrainian national Leonid Kharchenko.

Only Pulatov has legal representation and none of the men have appeared in court.

02:11

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