EDITORIAL

Justice is not always swift.

The clock has been ticking. Hands have been turning calendar pages.

And the Newport-Mesa community has been waiting for more than a year

to watch as justice is carried out.

In May 1999, Steven Allen Abrams sat behind the wheel of his Cadillac.

Who knows what thoughts ran through his mind as his foot applied pressure

to the pedal and he steered the car onto the playground in Costa Mesa’s

Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center.

Abrams, 40, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to criminal

charges stemming from the incident.

His actions took the lives of two young children and left several

others hurt. The crimes with which he is charged -- murder and attempted

murder -- are heinous.

Nothing can erase what happened, but trials are often a catalyst for

victims’ families and loved ones; sometimes a verdict indicates a

tangible end to a horrible nightmare.

The prosecution has accused Abrams of deliberately plotting a

collision course with the children.

If he is found guilty, Abrams could be sentenced to death. This week,

a jury was selected to determine his innocence or guilt.

His insanity defense means the jurors must decide if he was unable to

discern between right and wrong.

In the courtroom drama that will continue to play out, the jury -- and

the public -- will hear arguments about Abrams’ mental state. They will

hear testimony by experts and parents and witnesses.

They will replay the scene, remember the day, relive the pain -- and

hope for a speedy trial.