George Pino found not guilty in deadly 2022 Boca Chita Key boat crash that killed passenger, Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez and left Katy Puig permanently disabled. Prosecutors argued that the Florida millionaire developer was reckless and should be held responsible for the crash, while the defense argued that the crash was a tragic accident.
A millionaire Florida property developer has been found not guilty on all charges over a boat crash that killed a teenage girl and left another permanently disabled.
George Pino, 55, was acquitted on manslaughter and vessel homicide charges on Monday following eight days of testimony in Miami-Dade County.
The verdict brings an end to the criminal case over the September 4, 2022 crash near Boca Chita Key, when Pino’s 29-foot family boat smashed into a channel marker while carrying his wife, daughter and a group of teenage girls celebrating Carolina Pino’s 18th birthday.
Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez, 17, was killed. Her friend Katy Puig, then also 17, suffered a traumatic brain injury and has been left with permanent disabilities.
But after hearing from survivors, first responders, medical specialists, boating experts and members of the victims’ families, the six-person jury returned not-guilty verdicts.
Pino did not take the stand in his own defense, WSVN reported. He could be seen crying and embracing his family after the verdict was read.
The father of two was driving his 29-foot Robalo boat on Sept. 4, 2022, when he struck a boat marker in the Cutter Bank channel in Miami-Dade County, officials said.
Lucy Fernandez, 17, died from injuries sustained in the crash, and everyone else on board — including Pino, his wife, their daughter whose birthday they were celebrating and 10 more of his daughter’s friends — were injured, officials said. One of the teens, Katy Puig, suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries and now requires 24/7 medical care, prosecutors said.
Closing arguments took place early Monday afternoon, where prosecutors argued that Pino was reckless and should be held responsible for the crash, while the defense argued that the crash was a tragic accident.
Prosecutors allege Pino made ‘mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake’ that day, culminating in the deadly crash.
Prosecutors claimed Pino failing to operate the boat safely, such as maintaining a proper lookout and driving at a safe speed considering how many people were on board, driving nearly 50 mph before he crashed into the channel marker. Prosecutors said Pino had been inattentive for nine seconds and was driving on the wrong side of the channel before the crash occurred, and that he and the minors on the boat had been drinking prior to the crash.
But it was not to be, with the jury siding for the defense.
‘Devastating mistake but not a criminal’
In a statement after the verdict, Pino’s lead attorney Howard Srebnick said the developer had maintained from the outset that the crash was a devastating accident rather than a crime.
Srebnick argued during his closing on Monday that Pino ‘made a mistake’ and didn’t see the marker, but said that that doesn’t make him a criminal.
‘We are grateful to the jurors for their careful consideration of the evidence and for reaching a just verdict,’ Srebnick said following the verdict.
‘From the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4, 2022, were a tragic accident, not a crime.’
Srebnick said testimony at trial had included what he called ‘unrebutted accounts from eyewitnesses who saw no signs of impairment.’
He added: ‘Mr. Pino was not under the influence, was not operating the vessel recklessly, and that he did everything he could to protect his passengers after the accident.
‘We continue to mourn the loss of Lucy Fernandez every day and to pray for all those affected by this maritime mishap. Our hearts remain with the families of those involved, and we hope today’s verdict allows everyone to continue the long process of healing.’
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle said in a statement that while she disagrees with the verdict, she accepts the jury’s decision.
‘Sadly, I know that this verdict brings no comfort to the Fernandez and Puig families who forever must live with the tragedy of what happened. In a case like this, there are no winners or losers,’ she said in part. ‘Mr. Pino must live with what he did, while the Fernandez and Puig families will grapple with the consequences of his actions.’
