Defence lawyers wish wider probe of MH17 theories
Defence lawyers for a Russian suspect on trial over the downing of trip MH17 called on Monday for even more investigation of substitute theories including a Ukrainian fighter jet was first to blame.
Prosecutors found in the trial in holland tell you the Malaysia Airlines plane, that was shot down in 2014 and all 298 persons on board were killed, was reach by an air-to-ground missile fired from territory found in eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian separatists.
But legal representatives for Oleg Pulatov, the only person of the several suspects on trial to have legal representation, said there must be further inquiries into different theories.
Attorney Boudewijn van Eijck called for "a different consider the case."
"The case against our consumer is very definately not ready for assessment in court," he said.
Another defence law firm, Sabine ten Doesschate, said they wished to speak to witnesses who claimed to have heard a Ukrainian fighter jet in the region at the period, also to see more radar data.
Russian officials have previously publicly supported very similar theories a Ukrainian plane downed MH17 on the instant aftermath of the crash.
Dutch prosecutors last week addressed the fighter plane theory, saying investigators examined radar data that showed no armed service aircraft in the region at the time.
In addition they said Russia had backed from the idea after admitting that radar specifics appearing showing other planes near by was in error.
Prosecutors argue the four males on trial were instrumental found in bringing a BUK surface-to-air missile program to Ukraine from its original base in Russia - regardless if they didn't pull the trigger.
Pulatov together with fellow Russians Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko have already been charged by Dutch prosecutors with murder and leading to the crash. - AFP
