It is a legal dictum that justice delayed is justice denied. When the fact is evident, there is no need for procrastination in the conduct of a trial. This is precisely why Justice Jaiteh advised the state to seek out of court settlement for the obvious killing of 70 children who were given paracetamol syrup that contained ingredients that could cause death and did cause the death of the children as acknowledged by the office of the principal legal adviser of the state.
Since the cause of death is known, what is significant is to determine culpability. If the state accepts culpability, it should settle this matter with speed out of court. However, if it does not want to accept culpability, then the case must proceed to enable the court to receive the evidence of pathologists, the laboratories which conducted tests of the syrup, the importers in order to establish culpability.
It is the duty of the principal advisers of the state to guide the state to take necessary action to prove to the court that they are not simply folding their arms, but are relying on the facts that they have to pursue international litigation to assist the families to acquire redress from the producers of the killer medication. Unless they are taking such action, it is best for them to accept culpability and provide redress for the families. This is the verdict of common sense and fair-mindedness and it is incontrovertible.
