North Miami Man Acquitted In Boating Manslaughter Case
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A jury has acquitted a North Miami man who was charged with manslaughter in a boating related death two years ago.
On Tuesday, the panel deliberated for about four hours before deciding that Eulices Barrios, 39, was not guilty of culpable negligence in the death of 22-year old Domingo Vilalta.
Prosecutors and the defense agreed to many details of the event including the fact that Barrios had thrown a drunk and high Vilalta overboard after a day of partying at sea on a Fourth of July weekend. However, it was the propeller of another boat which slashed Vilata to death.
Judge Lisa Walsh said she was prepared to acquit Barrios after a Medical Examiner ruled Vilalta's death was an accident, but then changed her mind.
"This is the most difficult judgment of acquittal motion that at least in my 20 years that I've ever looked at. I'm going to let it go to the jury," said Walsh.
Barrios had faced up to 15 years in prison if the jury had found him guilty.
