A Dutch court has convicted three men of mass murder for their roles in the 2014 shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine.
The downing of the plane resulted in the deaths of all 298 on board.
Two were New Zealanders, Ōtaki man Robert Ayley who was returning to Wellington, and Australian resident Mary Menke who was travelling with her Dutch husband..
Ayley's long-time friend Bill Patterson says the news came as a surprise this morning but brings some closure.
