Miami real estate developer George Pino was found not guilty in connection with a boat crash off Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay in September 2022 that killed one teenager and left another with permanent disabilities.The verdict was handed down on Monday acquitting Pino, 55, who was charged with second-degree manslaughter and vessel homicide for the crash that killed 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and left another teen, Katy Puig, now 21, with life-changing injuries, according to NBC 6.The verdict comes after an emotional eight days of testimony in South Florida.During closing arguments, prosecutors argued that Pino was reckless when he crashed his boat into a channel marker during Labor Day weekend in 2022, while the defense maintained that the collision was an accident.FLORIDA MEN CHARGED IN FATAL BOATING HIT-AND-RUN OF 15-YEAR-OLD BALLERINAGeorge Pino was found not guilty of manslaughter or vessel homicide in connection with a deadly 2022 boat crash.(Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service)"We are grateful to the jurors for their careful consideration of the evidence and for reaching a just verdict," lead defense attorney Howard Srebnick said in a statement after the verdict, according to the outlet.
"From the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4, 2022, were a tragic accident, not a crime.The testimony presented at trial—including unrebutted accounts from eyewitnesses who saw no signs of impairment—confirmed that Mr. Pino was not under the influence, was not operating the vessel recklessly, and that he did everything he could to protect his passengers after the accident."Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, who prosecuted the case, said she was disappointed with the verdict but accepts the jury's decision."While everyone in our community and beyond recognizes the tragedy surrounding the Labor Day 2022 boating death of Lucy Fernandez and the permanent disabling of Katy Puig, my prosecutors and I have believed that t...