By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-11 21:16:20 | Updated at 2026-06-12 05:58:06
9 hours ago
The wife of a Florida real estate developer defiantly defended him in court, as he faces decades behind bars for a deadly 2022 boat crash that killed one of his daughter's friends.
George Pino, 55, hugged his wife Cecilia on Thursday morning after she took the stand in his trial in South Florida, where he faces charges of manslaughter and vessel homicide.
Prosecutors allege Pino recklessly drove a boat with his daughter and 12 of her friends for a birthday trip in September 2022, when he crashed into a channel marker.
The crash killed Lucy Fernandez, 17, and permanently disabled her friend Katy Puig, 17.
The wealthy developer faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted, and his wife passionately defended him as she took the stand this week to insist he did not cause the death of Fernandez in the boat crash.
In her testimony on Wednesday, Cecilia - who was on the boat during the crash - faced questioning from prosecutor Laura Adams, who asked her: '(Fernandez) died because your husband crashed into that channel marker, right?'
Cecilia argued back to the prosecutor's framing, responding: 'She died because there was an accident.'
As Cecilia showed her support by hugging her husband in court on Thursday, the jury was taken on an outside trip to the scene of the crash and to see the mangled boat, which Pino begged the judge for him to be allowed to avoid.
Cecilia Pino, the wife of George Pino, a Florida real estate developer, defiantly defended him as he faces decades behind bars for a deadly 2022 boat crash that killed one of his daughter's friends
Pino was driving this 29-foot Robalo boat when he crashed in September 2022. On Thursday, jurors visited the boat to inspect the damage to the boat, which Pino pleaded to avoid
Lucy Fernandez, left, died in the crash, while Katerina Puig survived but was left with severe, lifelong disabilities
The key testimony from Pino's wife came after the jury was shown harrowing police bodycam footage from the boat crash, including Pino's daughter and her friends screaming and crying moments after the tragedy.
Pino's attorneys attempted to block the jury from seeing the footage, arguing it was too graphic and its inclusion could greatly impact the case.
The request was rejected as the judge ruled the videos were relevant to the charges, but said jurors would be allowed to leave if they felt they couldn't handle the disturbing content.
Members of Fernandez's family were seen breaking down in tears in the courtroom as footage showed the 17-year-old's body being pulled from beneath Pino's vessel.
Other footage also included Fernandez being pulled onto a good Samaritan's boat after the crash and being treated by emergency crews before she died.
Prosecutors also showed images of alcohol seized from Pino's boat in the aftermath, including over 60 finished beverages stacked across the vessel.
Pino insists he only had two beers during the day and was not intoxicated when he crashed the boat, however authorities failed to administer a sobriety test on him at the scene.
The fatal crash took the life of 17-year-old Luciana 'Lucy' Fernandez (pictured)
Prosecutors showed images of alcohol seized from Pino's boat in the aftermath, including over 60 finished beverages stacked across the vessel
Pino's attorney argued that he was not drunk at the time of the crash, and only had two beers throughout the day before tragedy struck
Prosecutors showed evidence of the boat damage
The force of the crash destroyed the side of the boat and flung all occupants into the water
On Thursday, jurors were taken to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation site to see Pino's boat and inspect the damage.
Images of the boat show much of its rear right side was destroyed by the impact with a channel marker, which sent Pino and all others on board crashing into the water.
Pino's trial is expected to take up to three weeks, with the first days of his trial marked by several emotional breakdowns from the defendant that disrupted the proceedings.
His first outburst came in the opening statements, as Pino was seen in courtroom footage bursting into tears and weeping.
The disruption led the judge to halt the opening statements and dismiss jurors for the day, telling Pino he had to control himself when evidence is presented throughout his trial.
But the very next day, Pino was again seen having an emotional breakdown in court, as he had to be comforted by his attorney Howard Srebnick.
Pino's second emotional moment came as Fernandez's father Andres took the stand, and explained that he had known Pino for years and their daughters had grown up together.
Attendees in the courtroom were seen crying during Fernandez's testimony as he said he raced to the scene after hearing of the boat crash, and searched for hours before eventually finding his daughter's body in the water.
On Monday, Pino's trial was paused when he suffered an emotional breakdown
Pino broke down in tears for the second straight day at the start of his trial
Pino was a well known real estate developer in the Doral, Florida area
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
In Andres Fernandez's testimony, he said he and his wife waited for hours to eventually find their daughter in hospital, and recalled a harrowing conversation with police in her final moments.
He said he tried to remove a piece of fiberglass from the boat from her head, but was stopped by an officer because that was part of the evidence in the case.
Andres said he then turned to his wife and said, 'Our daughter is now evidence.'
The father grew emotional at times during his testimony, as supporters in the audience were seen also weeping as he spoke of his daughter.
During Tuesday's proceedings, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez also condemned Pino's family and friends for comforting the defendant while he struggled through the testimony.
She said it was inappropriate for them to hug Pino during sidebars, and told them, 'This is not a sports bar or social event.'
