France, Sept. 24 -- This week, the Nice terror trial has started hearing the testimonies of the civil plaintiffs, those who were bereaved or injured or traumatised whenMohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhleldrove a truck into the crowd celebrating Bastille Day in 2016, killing 86 people, injuring hundreds of others.

It took fourminutes and 17 seconds. An eternity. In that time, 86 people lost their lives, hundreds were injured, and possibly thousands traumatised by the sights and sounds of mass murder perpetrated by a man at the wheel of a heavy vehicle.

The special criminal court in Paris this week began offering a space for the bereaved and broken to make their suffering part of the legal record.

There are no easy days at a trial like this. But, a...