— Thomas Schansman (@ThomasSchansman) June 6, 2021
Investigators believe the missile was fired from territory held by pro-Russian rebels during fighting with Ukrainian government troops.
All 298 people on board were killed, two-thirds of them Dutch nationals.
Dutch judges overseeing the murder trial of three Russian men and another from Ukraine will summarise evidence at the hearing in a high-security courtroom in Amsterdam.
“The court will open the MH17 criminal trial proper and, through examining and discussing the content of the prosecution file, elucidate the key questions which it has already begun to address,”
The trial will start with hearings looking at the evidence and the investigation into the crash.
The defensee and prosecution will be granted time to discuss any conflicting information or issues, lasting until July 9, 2021.
Relatives of the victims will be allowed to address the court in what is understood will be an opportunity to give victim impact statements at some point in September.
A piece of the MH17 wreckage is lifted at the crash site in Donetsk, Ukraine. File photo: Reuters
The men on trial:
Three Russian nationals and one Ukrainian citizen are on trial for the downing of the Malaysian Airlines jet.
The tragic day of the downing of MH17:
The Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 jet was en route from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Investigators revealed the plane was shot down as it flew over a part of eastern Ukraine that is under the control of pro-Russian rebels.
All 298 people on board — including 196 Dutch citizens perished in the crash.
Anthony Lucas is reporter, presenter and social media producer with ticker News. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Professional Communication, with a major in Journalism from RMIT University as well as a Diploma of Arts and Entertainment journalism from Collarts. He’s previously worked for 9 News, ONE FM Radio and Southern Cross Austerio’s Hit Radio Network.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have suffered defeat in two parliamentary by-elections
UK Conservatives have lost two crucial seats in England, which could spark concerns about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s future.
The centrist Liberal Democrat party won the seats of Tiverton and Honiton.
The seats are in a Conservative part of south-west England, where a majority of 24,000 has been overturned.
The Liberal Democrats say it is their biggest ever majority turn around at a parliamentary by election.
“Tonight, the people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain. They’ve sent a loud and clear message: It’s time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now.”
winning candidate Richard Foord
The losses have renewed calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after a police investigation into gatherings at his Downing Street offices.
Johnson recently survived a vote of no-confidence, which secured his term as Prime Minister for another 12 months.
It also follows the Conservatives winning a landslide majority in three decades during the last national election.
Protesters are causing disruptions during an address by China’s Ambassador to Australia
Xiao Qian is in Sydney, where is he speaking about how to improve ties between the two countries.
One protester described Mr Xiao as a “representative of a dictatorship” and accused the Chinese Government of committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims.
Others were heard shouting “Free Tibet”, and another was asked to leave the venue prior to the event because he was dressed in a military costume.
The speech was widely seen as an attempt to ease relations between the two countries.
China has put trade sanctions on Australia, while a recent encounter took place between a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian maritime aircraft over the South China Sea.
Security guards reportedly ushered the protesters.