A Florida actual property developer on trial for a ship crash that killed a teenage lady broke down uncontrollably in court docket — forcing the decide to dismiss the jury and berate the defendant.
George Pino, 54, was seen bursting into tears, shaking, and sobbing simply over an hour into his homicide trial for the demise of 17-year-old Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez on Monday, as reported by Native 10 Information.
The outburst throughout opening statements pressured Choose Marisa Tinkler Mendez to dismiss the jury for the day.
“Mr. Pino’s going to want to have the ability to management himself,” the decide mentioned, agreeing with prosecutor Laura Adams, who branded the conduct “inappropriate” for the courtroom.
“It’s not correct in any respect for the jury to be witnessing the emotional behaviors,” Tinkler Mendez added.
Pino appeared to turn into emotional virtually instantly throughout Adams’ opening assertion, earlier than overtly bursting into tears throughout protection lawyer Howard Srebnick’s assertion.
He stepped out to compose himself, whereas Srebnick mentioned he was involved for his shopper’s well being.
“I don’t suppose he’s properly,” Srebnick mentioned, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Pino was checked out by Miami Hearth Rescue crews available earlier than the decide agreed to dismiss the jury for the day.
The well-known actual property dealer in Doral is dealing with second-degree manslaughter and vessel murder prices over his alleged involvement in a 2022 boating crash that killed Fernandez and left Katerina Puig, who was then 18, with everlasting and debilitating accidents.
Pino and his spouse, Cecilia, had been internet hosting a number of teen ladies for his or her daughter Carolina’s 18th birthday on their 29-foot boat once they crashed in Biscayne Bay on Sept. 4, 2022.
The daddy, who was piloting the vessel again to dock, hit a channel marker at round 50 miles per hour after turning round to examine on the passengers, Miami-Dade Hearth Rescue mentioned.
The power of the crash tore a big gap within the aspect of the boat and threw the entire passengers into the water.
Eleven individuals had been injured and 6 had been taken to the hospital, the place Fernandez later died.
Pino was not examined for sobriety, however when the boat was pulled from the crash the next day, 61 empty alcohol bottles, together with a champagne bottle, had been discovered on it, the Miami Herald reported in July 2025.
He’s accused of mendacity to the police about how the crash occurred and of failing to comply with correct boating legal guidelines.
“Within the aftermath of inflicting Lucy’s demise, this defendant averted accountability by telling the police a fabrication of how this boating crash occurred, and he maintained that falsehood lengthy after the day of this tragedy,” Adams instructed the decide.
“The proof on this case, women and gents, will present you this was not a mere accident or a momentary lapse in judgment. The proof will present that Lucy is useless as a result of the defendant did not do probably the most staple items that [the] guidelines of the water require,” she added.
Pino’s lawyer mentioned that his shopper’s spouse will testify that he was not drunk and that the incident was a tragic accident.
“The state admits this was not George’s intention for this to occur. He didn’t intend to crash right into a marker. He didn’t intend for anyone to be damage,” Srebnick instructed the decide.
“His personal daughter, his personal spouse, his personal physique was on that boat. Mrs. Pino will testify [that] George, her husband, was not impaired. She wouldn’t have risked her personal life,” he added.
Opening statements had been attributable to resume Tuesday morning.
