THE heartbreaking toll on Perth’s Maslin family has for the first time been laid bare in court documents filed this week showing the devastating impact of the MH17 disaster.
Sunday marks two years since the Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down over a war zone in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 aboard including Scotch College student Mo Maslin, 12, his siblings Evie and Otis, aged 10 and 8, and their grandfather Nick Norris.
The children, who had farewelled their parents only hours earlier at Amsterdam, were among 40 Australian victims and their young, innocent faces illustrated the tragedy to the whole world.
Court documents reveal the children’s parents Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris, as well as Mr Norris’ wife Lindy, have all suffered psychiatric and depressive illnesses, continue to undergo counselling and treatment, and require medication.
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The claim, filed on behalf of the Maslin family by Colin, Biggers and Paisley partner Andrew Tulloch, also alleges the airline failed to inform them promptly about the atrocity.
Instead, they learnt the Boeing 777 had been blasted from the sky by seeing graphic news reports.
“The applicants learnt of the deaths of the passengers by other means including by telephone from persons unrelated to (Malaysia Airlines) and by watching news reports displaying graphic images of the crash site,” the document said.
The toll on the three family members was considerable, with all suffering “varying degrees of psychiatric injury, conditions or illness, depressive illness and economic loss”.
On May 10, the Maslins welcomed a baby daughter, Violet May. “We will continue to love all four of our children equally. Violet brings some hope and joy for us,” the couple said, announcing the birth.
The Maslin claim was among legal documents filed by a dozen Australian families last week, just prior to the two-year cut-off for airline lawsuits, seeking damages from the airline.
Another bereaved Perth family, Jerzy Dyczynski and Angela Rudhart, have filed several lawsuits over the death of beloved daughter Fatima.
The couple are part of an action against the State and Government of Ukraine, claiming the country should have closed its airspace over the war zone, and are also trying to hold Russia to account for allegedly supplying the Buk missile used to shoot down MH17. The cases have been accepted by international courts.
“We celebrate Fatima every day and on this special day we will celebrate with our and her friends. Still there are no words to express the dimensions of the crime,” Fatima’s parents said this week.
Other WA victims included Albany couple Arjen and Yvonne Ryder, Perth school administrator Edel Mahady, and Dutch language teacher Dafne Nieveen.
Ms Nieveen’s partner Werner Lupker is also seeking damages from Malaysia Airlines. His solicitor Joseph Wheeler confirmed documents had been lodged with the Perth District Court.
Mr and Mrs Ryder’s son Drew said his family took comfort from their Christian religion on the anniversary.
Malaysia’s transport minister said preliminary findings from the MH17 forensic investigation were due this year.