A prominent Florida real estate broker, George Pino, has been acquitted of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide charges stemming from a boat crash in September 2022 that resulted in the death of one teenager and left another with life-altering injuries. The verdict, delivered by a Miami jury on Monday evening, has been met with profound dismay by the families of the victims.
The incident occurred during an 18th birthday celebration hosted by Pino and his wife, Cecilia, for their daughter, with eleven friends on board. The 29ft vessel collided with a steel channel marker in Biscayne Bay, leading to all 14 passengers being thrown into the water. Luciana Fernandez, 17, tragically died, while Katerina Puig, now 21, sustained severe head injuries that have left her permanently disabled.
Investigators discovered 61 empty alcohol bottles and cans on the boat after it was retrieved, capsized and damaged. Despite this, Pino, who maintained he was not impaired or speeding, was never subjected to a breath test following the accident. This omission, alongside other aspects of the investigation, has drawn strong criticism from the Puig family, who stated their belief that Pino should have been held accountable for the reckless operation of his vessel, according to reports by the Miami Herald.
In a statement released after the verdict, Kathya and Rodolpho Puig, Katerina's parents, expressed deep disappointment, stating, “While we respect our system of justice and the role of the jury, we profoundly disagree with the verdict.” They highlighted the daily reality of their daughter's injuries and the ongoing challenges she faces. Pino’s lawyer, Howard Srebnick, maintained that the events were a “tragic accident, not a crime,” and that testimony confirmed Pino was not under the influence and did everything possible to protect his passengers.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, responsible for the initial investigation, subsequently altered several policies. These changes were implemented following criticism regarding the failure to conduct a sobriety test on Pino and the deletion of officer-worn body-cam footage from the aftermath of the wreck. Civil suits brought by the Puig family resulted in a £12.7 million ($16 million) settlement with Cecilia Pino for Katerina’s medical care, and a separate, undisclosed settlement with George Pino.