4 hours ago
The family of a teen near pinch a imperishable disablement from a day statement vessel clang that killed different woman has reacted pinch dismay astatine nan acquittal of nan salient Florida existent property agent helming nan vessel.
George Pino was recovered not blameworthy by a Miami assemblage connected Monday evening of manslaughter and felony alloy homicide aft nan 4 September 2022 vessel wreck during a ceremony that he and his wife, Cecilia, were hosting for their daughter’s 18th birthday, pinch 11 of her friends arsenic guests.
Luciana Fernandez, 17, was killed erstwhile she was thrown from nan vessel aft it collided pinch a alloy transmission marker successful Biscayne Bay. Katerina Puig, now 21, received terrible caput injuries that near her permanently disabled.
Investigators recovered 61 quiet bottles and cans of intoxicant connected committee aft nan damaged, capsized vessel was retrieved. But Pino, who denied that he was impaired aliases had been speeding, was ne'er subjected to a activity test.
Puig’s family, successful a connection aft nan verdict reported by the Miami Herald, criticized what they said was a flawed investigation into nan clang – which ended pinch each 14 passengers onboard nan 29ft alloy successful nan water.
“While we respect our strategy of justness and nan domiciled of nan jury, we profoundly disagree pinch nan verdict,” her parents, Kathya and Rodolpho Puig, said.
“Based connected nan grounds presented, we judge George Pino should person been held accountable for nan reckless cognition of his vessel.
“We are profoundly disappointed by today’s verdict, and our hearts wounded for nan families who proceed to unrecorded each time pinch nan unimaginable nonaccomplishment of Lucy. For astir 4 years, our family has lived pinch nan consequences of that tragic day.
“We spot Katy’s injuries each day. We spot nan challenges she continues to face, nan spot she demonstrates successful overcoming them, and nan effect this calamity has had connected her life and nan lives of those who emotion her. No verdict tin alteration those realities.”
Pino collapsed down successful tears and hugged friends and relatives aft his acquittal by a assemblage of 5 men and 1 female astatine nan conclusion of a two-week trial. His lawyer, Howard Srebnick, said successful a connection that nan verdict was nan correct one.
“From nan beginning, we person maintained that nan events of September 4 2022 were a tragic accident, not a crime,” he said.
“The grounds presented astatine trial, including unrebutted accounts from eyewitnesses who saw nary signs of impairment, confirmed that Mr Pino was not nether nan influence, was not operating nan alloy recklessly, and that he did everything he could to protect his passengers aft nan accident.”
Several friends of Fernandez and Puig, a talented shot player, testified during nan trial. All 4 admitted that they had been drinking while underage and were emotion “buzzed”. Pino, 55, told investigators he had drunk only 2 beers and was sober.
Pino was primitively charged pinch three misdemeanor counts of sloppy boating. When caller grounds later came to light, those were upgraded to felony charges and could person brought a 15-year situation sentence.
The Florida food and wildlife conservation commission, whose labor conducted nan investigation into nan crash, changed respective policies aft disapproval of its handling, including nan nonaccomplishment to trial Pino for sobriety and nan deletion of officer-worn bodycam footage of nan wreck’s aftermath.
Civil suits revenge by nan Puig family resulted successful a $16m settlement pinch Cecilia Pino to salary for their daughter’s ongoing aesculapian care, and a separate, undisclosed colony pinch George Pino.
Miami-Dade region authorities lawyer Katherine Fernandez Rundle said successful a connection she sympathized pinch everybody affected by nan case.
“Sadly, I cognize that this verdict brings nary comfortableness to nan Fernandez and Puig families who everlastingly must unrecorded pinch nan calamity of what happened,” she said.
“In a lawsuit for illustration this, location are nary winners aliases losers. Mr Pino must unrecorded pinch what he did, while nan Fernandez and Puig families will grapple pinch nan consequences of his actions.”
