Sessions on the MH17 criminal trial resumed in September 2021. All sessions were live to follow and watch back via: https://www.courtmh17.com/zittingsdagen-2022.html.
Over a period of several weeks, about 100 bereaved families testified about the impact of the air disaster on their lives. On November 8, 2021, the last group of surviving relatives exercised their right to speak. Our office assisted the next of kin during this leaden period for them. During a meeting prior to these hearing days, the next of kin were prepared as well as possible for what awaited them. For example, they could already take a look around the courtroom.
Although it right to speak has been a possibility in the Netherlands for some time, it has not been used in this form and numbers before. To that extent, this is a historic moment in the development of victims' rights in the Dutch criminal process. It is incredibly important for next of kin to have the opportunity to speak during the hearing and share the impact of the downing of MH17 on their lives with the judges, but also publicly. While exercising their right to speak, the next of kin are also allowed to address their views on the crime, the question of guilt and the punishment of the defendants.
Experience has shown that judges attach great importance to the next of kin's stories and written statements, but that this can also play an important role in the trauma recovery of the next of kin.
The hearing resumed in November 2021, and on Dec. 8, 2021, the claims for damages were detailed.
In the week of Dec. 20, 2021, during the indictment, the prosecution went into detail about the events that led to the downing of MH17, the role of the suspects in it, and the substantiation of the charges. Also on December 22, 2021, the prosecution formulated the sentence: life imprisonment for the four suspects. The prosecution also addressed the claims submitted - on behalf of the next of kin - and adopted them almost in their entirety. The hearing resumed on March 7, 2022. For the schedule of hearings see below: https://www.om.nl/onderwerpen/mh17-vliegramp.
Read the interview in personal injury.nu from April 2021 in which Arlette Schijns extensively discusses the MH17 trial and the double interview with Arlette Schijns and Maarten Kunst in the newsletter of the Dutch-speaking Association for Psychotrauma.
If you would like more information about Beer advocaten's legal assistance in the MH17 case, please contact Arlette Schijns by phone +31206732199 or by email luchtvaartteam1@beeradvocaten.nl.