George Pino was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a Florida boating accident
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Miami real estate developer George Pino was found not guilty in connection with a boating accident on Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay in September 2022 that killed one teenager and left another permanently disabled.
The verdict was released Monday acquitting Pino, 55, who was charged with manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter in the crash that killed Lucy Fernandez, 17, and left another teenager, Katy Puig, 21, with life-changing injuries, according to NBC 6.
The verdict comes after eight days of emotional testimony in South Florida.
During closing arguments, prosecutors argued that Pino was negligent when he crashed his boat into a channel marker on Labor Day weekend in 2022, while defense attorneys argued the collision was an accident.
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George Pino was found not guilty of manslaughter or manslaughter in connection with the 2022 boat accident. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service)
“We thank the jury for carefully considering the evidence and reaching a just verdict,” defense attorney Howard Srebnick said in a statement after the verdict, according to the report. “From the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4, 2022, were a tragic accident, not a crime. The evidence presented at trial—including unsolicited accounts from eyewitnesses who saw no signs of impairment—confirmed that Mr. Pino was not under the influence, was not operating the vessel recklessly, and was protecting his passengers after the accident.”
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, who prosecuted the case, said she was disappointed with the decision but accepted the jury’s decision.
“While everyone in our community and beyond recognizes the tragedy surrounding the Labor Day 2022 boating death of Lucy Fernandez and the permanent disability of Katy Puig, my prosecutors and I believe that all of George Pino’s actions in the waters of Biscayne Bay were reckless and criminal as defined by Florida’s criminal statement,” he said in a Florida criminal statement.
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George Pino’s boat hit the station marker on September 4, 2022. (FWC report)
“Sadly, I know that this decision does not bring comfort to the family of Fernandez and Puig who must live forever with the tragedy of what happened. In a situation like this, there are no winners or losers,” he added. “Mr. Pino must live with what he did, and the Fernandez and Puig families will face the consequences of his actions.”
On September 4, 2022, Pino and his wife celebrated their daughter’s birthday on their boat.
Investigators say Pino was operating the family’s 29-foot boat while returning to the dock when it hit a channel marker near Boca Chita Key. Pino told investigators that another boat had passed by and created a large wake. He said he turned to look at the youth after waking up which caused him to collide with the marker.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue agents responded to a boating accident near Boca Chita Key, Florida, that killed one person on September 4, 2022. (Miami-Dade Fire Rescue/AP)
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The impact of the crash caused everyone on board to fall into the water. The crash also left a large hole in the side of the ship.
11 out of 14 passengers were injured, including six who were taken to the hospital. Fernandez later died from his injuries and Puig suffered a severe brain injury that left him paralyzed for life.
