An expert witness’s evaluation of George Pino’s injuries may play a key role in his upcoming trial on manslaughter and vessel homicide charges related to a 2022 boat crash that killed 17-year-old Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez, according to a March 18 report.
The case centers on whether Pino, a Doral-based real estate broker, suffered brain damage that could have affected his memory of the incident. The findings could influence the legal proceedings as Pino faces serious charges and potential prison time.
Boca Raton neurologist Dr. Diana Barrat examined Pino to determine if he experienced a traumatic brain injury resulting in amnesia and “false memories regarding the details of the accident,” according to the Miami Herald. Barrat is expected to testify as an expert witness for the defense. She authored an 18-page report about her evaluation, which was submitted to prosecutors at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. Although much of her findings were redacted, they suggest that Pino’s legal team may present evidence that he suffered a traumatic brain injury during the Labor Day weekend crash in 2022.
Pino did not respond to requests for comment on Barrat’s report. At the time of the accident, he was piloting his 29-foot Robalo boat near the Florida Keys with his wife, daughter, and eleven other teenage girls aboard when it struck a concrete channel marker and capsized. Fernandez died in the crash, while another teen, Katerina “Katy” Puig, suffered brain injuries. Investigators said Pino claimed that a larger boat created a wake causing him to lose control of his vessel. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
In addition to criminal charges, Puig’s parents filed a lawsuit against Pino and his wife in 2023 alleging their daughter was permanently disabled by the accident. The complaint claims that Pino refused blood and breathalyzer tests after the incident and alleges that alcohol served by the couple contributed to their daughter’s injuries.
The outcome of this case could have implications for how courts consider medical defenses involving memory loss or brain injury in similar incidents.
