No-show witness fined for ignoring summons

Disobeying a summons … It’s an act that happens often, much to the dismay of attorneys … but tonight they’re not letting a Belize City woman get away with it. Twenty-five year old Graciela Castillo was served with a summons to appear in court on December eleventh to testify against Burton Garoy, a defendant charged with aggravated assault. According to court reports, Castillo was additionally reminded of her appearance via a phone call on the day of the case, but she never showed up. Because Castillo could not give a lawful excuse for her absence, police prosecutor Corporal Clinton Magdaleno brought an action against the young woman. Castillo pleaded guilty to the charge and while Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord could have sentenced her to as much as three months in prison, he instead fined her three hundred dollars or in default two months in jail. One hundred dollars was payable immediately, which Castillo managed to find. The remaining two hundred is due by January fifteenth.