It’s a good thing that Nicholas T. Sheley is a young man.

Four years after the Sterling man, then 28, was arrested on July 1, 2008, and eventually charged in the horrifically violent 6-day, two-state spree in which eight people were beaten to death, Sheley has been tried for only one of the killings.

That trial took place last September in Knox County. A jury found Sheley guilty of killing Ronald Randall, a 65-year-old Galesburg man. In November, Sheley received a life sentence in prison.

Here it is now, early July, another anniversary of Sheley’s arrest.

Four years.

One trial.

One conviction.

Seven deaths for which Sheley has yet to be tried.

Five in Whiteside County.

Two in Festus, Mo.

Some might say the wheels of justice have moved not only exceedingly slowly, but they have nearly ground to a halt.

In Whiteside County, some progress was made toward trying Sheley for the killing of Russell Reed, 93, of Sterling.

After Sheley’s Knox County conviction, a Whiteside County trial date of March 5 was set.

As March approached, the trial date was delayed until June 11.

As June approached, the trial date was moved again, this time to Sept. 10.

Delay. Delay. Delay.

After Sheley’s trial in the Reed killing finally takes place, he will stand trial in more deaths.

The victims:

Brock Branson.

Kenneth Ulve.

Kilynna Blake and her son, Dayan Blake.

Those four were found dead in a Rock Falls apartment, 4 years ago.

Tom Estes.

Jill Estes.

The Arkansas couple were found dead in a motel parking lot in Festus, Mo., 4 years ago.

How long will it take until those trials take place?

But we must remember, Sheley is only 32.

Plenty of time remains to try him, the criminal justice system seems to be saying.

Justice delayed is justice denied?

That judicial maxim doesn’t apply anymore.

Victims’ families, and the general public, can only shake their heads.

And the wait for justice continues.