A well-known Florida developer found himself overwhelmed with emotion as the trial for a tragic 2022 boating accident began. The incident resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl and left another young woman paralyzed. The case is drawing significant attention, with its dramatic opening marked by the defendant’s tears.
George Pino, 54, a respected real estate broker from Doral, faces serious charges, including manslaughter and felony vessel homicide. These charges stem from the Biscayne boat crash in 2022, which claimed the life of Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez, aged 17, and caused life-altering injuries to Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time.
On the trial’s opening day, in a stunning turn of events, Pino was visibly distraught just over an hour into the proceedings, leading to an unexpected pause. His emotional breakdown prompted the judge to dismiss the jury for the remainder of the day.
This emotional moment occurred shortly after prosecutor Laura Adams concluded her opening statements. As Pino’s defense lawyer began his presentation, the atmosphere in the courtroom shifted dramatically with Pino’s tears.
Recognizing the potential impact on the jury, prosecutor Adams requested a delay in proceedings, citing the inappropriateness of such an emotional display in front of jurors, according to reports from Local 10 News.
Presiding over the case, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez concurred with the prosecutor. She admonished Pino’s attorney about the need for the defendant to maintain composure, emphasizing that “it’s not proper at all for the jury to be witnessing the emotional behaviors.” Consequently, she ordered the jury’s temporary removal from the courtroom.
Pino, meanwhile, stepped out to compose himself – but his lead attorney, Howard Srebnick, told the judge he was concerned about his client’s health.
‘I don’t think he’s well,’ the lawyer said, according to the Miami Herald.
After a short recess, Miami Fire Rescue crews checked Pino out, and the judge ultimately agreed to dismiss the jury for the day – saying opening statements would resume on Tuesday morning.
George Pino, 54, a well-known real estate broker in Doral, was caught sobbing in court as his manslaughter and vessel homicide trial got underway on Monday
Pino was operating a 29-foot Robalo when he hit a channel marker, while speeding at around 50 miles per hour, near Boca Chita Key
Pino is facing felony charges in connection with a devastating crash on September 4, 2022, when Pino and his wife, Cecilia Pino, were hosting several teen girls for their daughter’s 18th birthday party.
All of the girls on the boat were lifelong friends of Carolina Pino and students at Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Pino was piloting the 29-foot vessel back to the dock when he hit a channel marker, while speeding at around 50 miles per hour, near Boca Chita Key.
Pino allegedly said another boat came by creating a big wake and when he turned to check and make sure all of the girls were okay, he hit the marker, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
The boat crash knocked everyone out of the boat and tore a large hole in the side of the vessel, injuring 11 of the passengers.
Six of them were taken to the hospital, where Fernandez would later die.
Pino was never administered a sobriety test, yet when the boat was pulled from the water the day after the crash, 61 empty alcohol bottles – including an empty bottle of champagne – were found on it, according to the Miami Herald.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee – who conducted an ‘extensive marine investigation’ following the accident – maintained that it didn’t have probable cause to perform the test.
The fatal crash took the life of 17-year-old Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez (pictured) and left Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time, with debilitating and permanent injuries that will preclude her from living an independent life
When the trial got underway on Monday, Adams spent more than 45 minutes detailing how Pino allegedly acted recklessly when he slammed his 29-foot Robalo center console into a steel channel marker, sending himself and all 13 passengers into the water.
‘This is a case about responsibility and accountability, or, I should say, the lack of both by the defendant,’ Adams told the jury.
She went on to claim that before the crash, Pino was on the wrong side of the channel and was speeding when he smashed into the marker, which had a green neon sign on top of it.
In the nine seconds before the crash, Adams said, Pino was on a ‘collision course with the marker’ – which he could not stop because he was not wearing a kill switch to stop the engine.
She further argued that alcohol was a factor considering the teenage girls, who were underage, were provided with alcohol and Pino admitted drinking ‘two beers’ that day.
‘There was alcohol, lots of it stocked on that boat,’ Adams said, referring to the 61 empty and partially empty bottles and cans police found on the vessel after salvaging it from the water the following day.
‘This was not a mere accident or momentary lapse,’ the prosecutor continued, according to the Herald. ‘Lucy is dead because the defendant failed to do the most basic things the rules of the water require.’
The boat crash knocked everyone out of the boat and tore a large hole in the side of the vessel, injuring 11 of the passengers. Six of them were taken to the hospital, where Fernandez would later die
The prosecutor also told jurors of the chaotic aftermath, when everyone was thrown overboard into the water.
She told how Pino was hanging on the boat, while witnesses who arrived on the scene urged him to look under the vessel for Fernandez, whom he later found suffering from severe injuries.
Pino then allegedly avoided accountability by claiming he lost control as the vessel drifted into the wake of another boat.
However, no witnesses – including others on the Robalo or in other boats behind him – saw what Adams referred to as the ‘phantom boat.’
‘The GPS told the truth about what happened,’ she argued. ‘George Pino did not.’
Pino’s attorney, Srebnick, had been in the process of delivering his own opening statement when the real estate broker had his meltdown.
In his brief remarks on Monday, the lawyer said the crash was a tragedy – noting that his client had seen the girls, who were all friends since they were young children – grow up together.
‘George would never… put any of these girls’ lives in jeopardy,’ he argued.
Srebnick also pointed out there were no speed limits in the Cutter Bank channel and there was no evidence Pino was intoxicated at the time.
If convicted, Pino faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.
