Findings on Timor killings

History may be rewritten today when a coroner hands down a finding on the deaths of five Australian-based newsmen gunned down in East Timor.

One of those killed was New Zealander Gary Cunningham.

Deputy New South Wales coroner Dorelle Pinch will hand down her findings on the deaths of the men at Balibo on October 16, 1975.

Official reports have long maintained the five were killed in crossfire during Indonesia's controversial invasion of East Timor.

But evidence given at the eight-week inquest suggested the Indonesian Army had been tracking the journalists and official orders were given to execute them.

Counsel assisting the inquest Mark Tedeschi asked Ms Pinch to find the men were murdered to prevent them reporting on the invasion.

- AAP