MH17 victims' families demand justice as they attend emotional memorial service

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Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board
Victims' families today attended memorial service to mark year anniversary
They spoke of their continued frustrations over the handling of the tragedy
Wife of one of the pilots said: 'We must find out who shot down the plane'

Published: 05:35 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 10:30 EST, 11 July 2015

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Families of the 298 passengers and crew who were killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine have demanded justice for their loved ones.

Speaking at a memorial service held to mark the first anniversary of the disaster, the wife of one of the pilot's on board the aircraft said, 'we want to find out who shot down the plane'.

The Boeing 777 was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it went down over part of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian rebels.

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Grieving: Nearly a year after MH17 was downed, relatives gathered to remember those who lost their lives

Demanding answers: The families used the event to call for more to be done to uncover the truth

Heartbreak: Dozens of relatives broke down in tears at the memorial service, held today in Kuala Lumpur

Suspicions of Ukraine and the West immediately fell on the separatists, who might have used a surface-to-air missile supplied by Russia to shoot down the plane.

But Moscow flatly denied it was involved and pointed the finger instead at Ukraine's military.

Relatives of those who lost their lives in the disaster used the remembrance service to express their continued frustrations over the handling of the tragedy.

A number of those who had gathered in Kuala Lumpur airport broke down in tears when the names of the passengers scrolled across screens in tribute to the dead.

A minute's silence was also held, giving relatives time to reflect on those who they had lost.

Ivy Loi, whose husband Captain Eugene Choo was one of the pilots on board the flight, said: 'We want to find out who shot down the plane. We must find out.'

Shocking footage shows immediate aftermath of MH17 crash

Controversy: The dispute around who is responsible for downing flight MH17 (crash site pictured) continues

Poignant: A minute's silence was also held, giving relatives time to reflect on those who they had lost

Comfort: Ivy Loi, right, whose husband Captain Eugene Choo was one of the pilots on board the flight

Shared loss: The country's prime minister joined mourning families at the event at Kuala Lumpur airport

Ms Loi, who attended the service with her two sons, was greeted by a number of Malaysia Airlines employees. 'We're just trying to cope,' she added, as she wiped away tears.

Speaking at the memorial, prime minister Najib Razak said the international criminal probe into the downing of the plane was ongoing and could be completed by the end of the year.

'Detailed investigations are still continuing... and they are expected to be finished by the end of 2015 at least,' he said.

The memorial was held on Saturday instead of the first anniversary of the crash, July 17, because it falls on during Eid al-Fitr, Islam's biggest festival which marks the culmination of Ramadan.

MH17 families gather on national day of mourning

Distraught: One man buries his face in his hand as he remembers Ng Qing Zheng, one of the victims

Still in mourning: One woman holds a young child to her chest as she cries during the memorial service

Respect: Malaysia Airlines' new CEO Christophe Mueller, left, and Malaysia's prime minister Najib Razak

Tribute: Men and women bow their heads in prayer as they remember those who lost their lives last year

It makes the timing of the anniversary especially painful for Muslim-majority Malaysia.

'It's Ramadan and we feel the sadness,' said Shahadat Bey, whose aunt died in the crash.

'Everyone is just pointing fingers but it's very important that we get some closure and justice because everybody needs to know what happened.'

Madzalina Ghazalee, who lost her sister in the disaster, said the past weeks had been difficult.

She said: 'For Ramadan, we're sad because we're so used to having all the family members around during this period but now its not the same.'

Rita Phang, 62, lost her cousin when the plane was downed.

Overwhelmed: Family members break down as they listen to the service being delivered

Emotional: One woman uses a tissue to wipe away her tears, as families called for justice for their loved ones

Reflection: Cupping her hands in prayer, one woman remembers those who were killed in the disaster

Justice: One relative said 'action needs to be taken' to find out who was responsible for the tragedy

'I know it's almost a year, but we still feel sad, even though we know we have to accept the way things are,' she said. 'But action needs to be taken. I want justice to be served.'

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai insisted that the government was doing all it could.

'Malaysia is single-minded in making sure we find out who the people responsible for this tragedy are,' he said.

Malaysia is working with Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine - all member countries of the Joint Investigation Team - on setting up an international tribunal.

Action: Malaysia is working with Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine on setting up a tribunal

Silence: Underneath the intricate roof of Kuala Lumpur airport, families lower their heads in prayer

The Boeing 777 passenger plane was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it went down

Pledge: Government ministers insisted they were doing all they could to bring those responsible to justice

A draft UN resolution calls for establishing the tribunal under Chapter 7 of the UN charter, which means that the court's efforts to prosecute those responsible could be enforced by sanctions.

Malaysia's UN ambassador Ramlan Ibrahim told the 15-member Security Council in early July that a UN court would 'provide the highest degree of legitimacy for the trial'.

However, Russia said on Thursday it would oppose the resolution.

Just four months prior to the MH17 incident, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished without a trace with 239 people on board after its communications systems were apparently deliberately shut off, becoming one of aviation's enduring mysteries.