NORTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - Jurors in the trial of real estate developer George Pino examined the boat he was operating during the fatal 2022 boating accident that took the life of a teenage girl before heading back to the courtroom for an afternoon session on the fourth day of trial.
Early Thursday morning, jurors arrived at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission‘s facility in North Miami and assessed the damage on the vessel that prosecutors said Pino was driving when the crash occurred, killing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and permanently injuring Katy Puig.
The group spent about 20 minutes examining the damage and getting a first-hand look at the boat before a police escort led them back to the courthouse.
7News cameras captured the boat with heavy damage to the right side of the hull.
Back in the courtroom on Thursday afternoon, Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez said jurors did a good job on their trip to North Miami.
“There were no statements made. No comments made. No testimony and the jurors went about their business without discussions,” she said.
Following the short trip, testimony continued on the stand. FWC Lt. Manuel Pomares, a member of the dive team that documented the wreckage and collected evidence in the aftermath of the crash, was one of the first people to take the stand.
As he was questioned, prosecutors showed videos and photos he captured on his GoPro, depicting the vessel upside down and damaged.
Prosecutors also showed photos of items collected from and around the boat.
“There’s some clothing. Here’s eight phones, a pair of glasses, there’s a couple of Yeti-type tumbler cups, and a couple of Trulys and a Bud Light can,” said Pomares.
Prosecutors also presented pieces of the channel marker and the boat recovered as evidence.
“So that is what will be the starboard side of the vessel. You can see part of the manufacturer that said you’re wild. And it’s the same color as the hull. And then this will be facing the inside,” Pomares explained to the jury.
The lieutenant also described the impact the pylon had on the boat at impact.
“The vessel’s forward motion wants to keep going, therefore it’s crushing what’s making contact from the vessel’s fiberglass with the steel piling in this case,” he said.
Jurors also had a chance to look at video that recreated the path the vessel took on that fateful day.
Pino is facing several charges, including manslaughter.
The fourth day of trial concluded on Thursday afternoon. Trial will resume on Friday morning.
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