A father who organized a birthday party for his daughter and 12 friends that ended tragically on a boat has been acquitted by a jury today.
George and Cecilia Pino hosted an 18th birthday celebration for their daughter on their boat on September 4, 2022. The group included several teenage girls who were long-time friends and classmates, among them Lucy Fernandez.
After the boat struck a channel marker near Boca Chita Key while returning to the dock, George Pino, the boat’s operator, explained to investigators that a passing vessel had created a large wake. He mentioned that he turned to check on the girls after the wake, leading to the collision with the marker.
The collision caused a significant breach in the boat’s hull, throwing everyone on board into the water.
Following the incident, six passengers were taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, Lucy Fernandez, a 17-year-old friend of Pino’s daughter, lost her life, and another friend sustained permanent injuries. Fernandez was trapped under the boat and succumbed to drowning-related injuries in the hospital approximately 12 hours later.
George Pino, aged 55, has been acquitted of vessel homicide and manslaughter charges related to the boat accident near Boca Chita Key.
Throughout the trial, more than 20 witnesses, including Fernandez’s father Andres and Pino’s wife Cecilia, provided testimony. Jurors also viewed footage showing Fernandez and her friends enjoying themselves on the boat before the tragic incident occurred.
Pino consistently pleaded not guilty and asserted his innocence. His defense team argued during closing statements that the crash was an unintentional occurrence.
In a statement released by his lead attorney, Howard Srebnick, gratitude was expressed to the jurors for their thorough evaluation of the evidence and the just conclusion reached. The defense maintained that the events that transpired on September 4, 2022, constituted a tragic accident, not a criminal act.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle acknowledged the verdict and emphasized the impact of the incident on the families involved, highlighting the profound tragedy that has affected the community.
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