EDITORIAL: Justice delayed

With two trials - which spanned nine and 12 years respectively - making headlines this week, it is time we shine a light on our justice system.These are the famous B1 City and Heckmair cases.In the first - which stemmed from alleged crimes committed between 2004 and 2006, and started in 2014 - former CEO of the Roads Contractor Company Kelly Nghixulifwa and two of his business friends Anna Ndoroma and Hafeni Nginamwaami faced fraud and corruption charges.In the other, two American nationals Marcus Thomas and Kevan Townsend stood accused of assassinating Andre Heckmair in 2011.Nghixulifwa and co were acquitted of several charges but still face others, while the Americans were found guilty and now await sentencing.The system should be fair and deliver timeous justice to all parties involved. The longer trials take before completion, the more those zooming in from outside might see red flags within our justice system.While we are cognisant that there are instances where delays are reasonably warranted, it should not become the norm because it causes substantial prejudice to the prosecution, the accused, their legal team and witnesses.Beyond that, delays within trials do not paint a rosy picture of our much-lauded judicial system, because justice delayed is justice denied - a concept that is often used to emphasise the importance of the timely and efficient delivery of legal processes.When the judiciary fails to provide justice in a timely manner, it can lead to frustration and loss of faith in the system.

EDITORIAL: Justice delayed

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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EDITORIAL: Justice delayed

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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