MIAMI — A Miami jury found real estate broker George Pino not guilty of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide on Monday evening. The verdict concluded a two-week trial stemming from a September 2022 boat crash in Biscayne Bay that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez and severe injuries to Katerina Puig.

The incident occurred on September 4, 2022, when a 29-foot boat, operated by Pino, collided with a steel channel marker. Fernandez died after being ejected from the vessel, and Puig, now 21, sustained permanent disability due to severe head injuries. All 14 passengers on the boat ended up in the water after the collision. Pino, 55 at the time of the trial, and his wife, Cecilia, were hosting a party for their daughter's 18th birthday, with 11 guests aboard in addition to themselves. Investigators later recovered 61 empty bottles and cans of alcohol from the boat after it was retrieved. Pino stated he had consumed two beers and was sober, denying impairment or speeding. He was not subjected to a breath test following the crash. Four friends of Fernandez and Puig testified that they had been drinking alcohol while underage.

Initially, Pino faced three misdemeanor counts of careless boating which were later upgraded to felony charges. Howard Srebnick, Pino's lawyer, released a statement following the verdict. "From the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4 2022 were a tragic accident, not a crime," Srebnick said. He added, "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."

Kathya Puig and Rodolpho Puig, Katerina Puig's parents, issued a statement disagreeing with the verdict. "While we respect our system of justice and the role of the jury, we profoundly disagree with the verdict," the parents said. "Based on the evidence presented, we believe George Pino should have been held accountable for the reckless operation of his vessel." The Puig family previously filed civil suits that resulted in a $16 million settlement with Cecilia Pino for Katerina Puig's medical care and a separate, undisclosed settlement with George Pino.

Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle also released a statement regarding the verdict. "Sadly, I know that this verdict brings no comfort to the Fernandez and Puig families who forever must live with the tragedy of what happened," Fernandez Rundle said. She noted that in such cases, there are no winners or losers, stating, "Mr Pino must live with what he did, while the Fernandez and Puig families will grapple with the consequences of his actions." The jury consisted of five men and one woman. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted the investigation into the crash and changed several policies after criticisms of its handling of the case, including the deletion of officer-worn bodycam footage from the wreck's aftermath.