Marlon Castillo Fined and Ordered to Compensate Ariel Rosado Family
Marlon Castillo
Marlon Castillo is the twenty-nine year old former cyclist who admitted earlier this week to causing the death of his long-time cycling buddy Ariel Rosado. It happened during a traffic accident five years ago on the Philip Goldson Highway. Today a remorseful Castillo was assessed fines totalling thirteen thousand dollars – and it could have been even more, had he not been spared by Rosado’s family. The budding attorney-at-law and cycling champion left behind a daughter, now eleven years old. Her grandparents, Doctor and Mrs. Alvaro Rosado, say they have forgiven Marlon for his actions, but Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas said he was responsible for the accident due to his excessive speed, which caused him to lose control of the accelerator in the Toyota Tacoma vehicle. Castillo’s attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, spoke of what happened in court after its conclusion.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney for Marlon Castillo
“His Lordship, Justice Adolph Lucas imposed a fine of five thousand dollars for the traffic incident/accident in which Marlon Castillo was driving and his good friend and team mate Ariel Rosado was in the passenger seat when there was a mishap with the accelerator of the vehicle and it could not stop and slammed into a cement fence on the then northern highway. Instead of imposing a very hefty fine which can be done under the law, the Judge took into a number of mitigating factors; meaning Marlon Castillo has a clean record, he is a law abiding good, decent, citizen. He is working. He has said to the court that he is truly sorry, profoundly remorseful in relation to what has transpired. Today again he took the opportunity to tell the family of his friend that he was very sorry. So, the judge imposed a fine of five thousand dollars rather than sending him to prison and has charged him a very high fine and gave him time to pay by the end of the year. And then there was mention, the Judge just before sentencing earlier this week, was of the view that he found it strange that the family was not present; And learnt from the Crown, from the prosecution that in fact they had not made contact with the family. SO, the Judge had adjourned the matter and they waited until they made contact with the family and asked the family if they wanted to say anything. Dr Dorla Rosado, mother of Ariel, came with her husband Dr Rosado and she took the witness stand to say certain things to the court which in fact amounted to a form of mitigation supporting leniency towards a person who she said had been involved in a most unfortunate accident in which she lost her son.”
The Rosado family is due compensation from an insurance company in relation to the accident. Castillo was ordered to pay two thousand of the five thousand dollar fine in relation to the charge of causing death by careless conduct immediately, which he did. The eight thousand dollar compensation charge to the Estate of Ariel Rosado is due by June of 2017. The law dictates that the family of a traffic accident victim is entitled to compensation and can claim such in civil action but the Rosado family chose not to do so, as according to Dorla Rosado they wished to put the incident behind them and remember Ariel’s life and wishes and especially his friendship with Castillo. The Rosados established and maintain the Ariel Rosado Education Foundation, which has provided more than one hundred scholarships to students in its five years of operation.
