Baby Violet
With late children
Late kids (Mo, Evie & Otis)
The parents who lost their three children in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over the Ukraine almost two years ago have a new baby girl.
Violet May Maslin was born on Tuesday to Perth's Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris.
'We still live with pain but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us, always brings light to our darkness.'
Mr Maslin and Ms Norris, who is also known as Rin, said their family was 'torn apart when MH17 was blown out of the sky by the violent anger of a nationalist missile'.
'Violet's birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate,' the couple said in a statement on Thursday.
'We believe that Mo, whose 14th birthday was Saturday, Evie, 12 next week, Otis, 10 next month, and Grandad Nick have sent us an amazing gift,' the couple went on to say in a statement released through the Department of Foreign Affairs.
On July 17, 2014, MH17 was shot down as it flew over eastern Ukraine on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
STATEMENT FROM ANTHONY MASLIN AND MARITE 'RIN' NORRIS
"Violet May Maslin came in to the world on Tuesday 10 May, bringing with her love and light, hope and joy.
Our family was torn apart when MH17 was blown out of the sky by the violent anger of a nationalist missile, on July 17, 2014. Our three innocent, beautiful and inspiring children were killed, alongside their grandfather, Nick Norris.
We believe that Mo, whose 14th birthday was Saturday, Evie, 12 next week, Otis, 10 next month, and Grandad Nick have sent us an amazing gift. Violet’s birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate.
We still live with pain, but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us always, brings light to our darkness. As Martin Luther King said, 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'
We will continue to love all four of our children equally. Violet brings some hope and joy for us. We hope she brings hope and joy for you too."
RIP: Mo, Evie & Otis
An international investigation found the plane was downed by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile, believed to have been fired by pro-Russia separatists.
All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 Australian residents and citizens.
Among the dead were Mr Maslin and Ms Norris's children - Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis, eight.
Their grandfather Nick Norris, 68, was also killed.
The children were returning home to Perth for school while their parents stayed behind in Amsterdam.
Source: Daily Mail UK
