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 held an 18th birthday bash for their daughter on their boat on September 4, 2022. Among the guests were several teenage girls who were lifelong friends and classmates, including Lucy Fernandez.
Investigators reported that George Pino was driving the family’s 29-foot boat back to the dock when it collided with a channel marker near Boca Chita Key. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue stated that Pino mentioned a passing vessel creating a large wake, causing him to check on the girls and inadvertently crash into the marker.
The impact caused a significant hole in the boat’s hull, throwing everyone onboard into the water.
Following the accident, 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 about 12 hours later.
George Pino, aged 55, has been absolved of vessel homicide and manslaughter charges related to the boat collision near Boca Chita Key.
Over a two-week trial period, jurors heard testimonies from over 20 witnesses, including Fernandez’s father, Andres, and Pino’s wife, Cecilia. Jurors also viewed footage showing Fernandez and her friends dancing on the boat and singing along to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl,” illustrating how the birthday party turned into a tragedy swiftly.
Pino consistently pleaded not guilty and asserted his innocence throughout the trial. During the closing arguments, Pino became emotional as his defense team argued that the crash was unintentional.
His lead attorney, Howard Srebnick, expressed gratitude to the jurors for carefully considering the evidence and delivering a fair verdict. Srebnick maintained that the events of September 4, 2022, were a tragic accident, not a criminal act.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle released a statement acknowledging the impact of the incident on all involved parties. While she and her team may not agree with the verdict, they respect the jury’s decision as a fundamental part of the justice system.
