Dutch Trial Opens for 4 Suspects in Downing of Flight MH17

The trial started for the three Russians and a Ukrainian charged with multiple counts of murder for their alleged involvement in the downing of Flight MH17.

The reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, put on display during a press conference in Gilze-Rijen, central Netherlands, on Oct. 13, 2015. Peter Dejong/AP Photo

SCHIPHOL, Netherlands—As the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian charged with multiple counts of murder for their alleged involvement in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 began March 9, a Dutch prosecutor solemnly read out the names of all 298 people killed in the attack.

As expected, the suspects didn’t appear for trial and weren’t in the courtroom as prosecutor Dedy Woei-a-Tsoi read out the victims’ names.