Salvatore Anello, the man who pleaded guilty last year in connection with his 1-year-old granddaughter’s fatal fall from a cruise ship, has been sentenced to three years probation, the authorities in Puerto Rica have sentenced Monday announced. Anello was charged with negligent murder in the death of Chloe Wiegand, who fell more than 100 yards from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship window in July 2019.
Wiegand falls off the docked ship after Anello confronted her against what he believed was a set of closed windows and she slipped out of his hands. CBS News’ surveillance video showed the moments before the fatal fall in which Wiegand ran to the windows with Anello behind her. Anello could then be seen picking her up and holding her over the railing.
Anello repeatedly said that he only held her up because he believed there was glass and that he would never have done it any other way.
“At the time the accident happened, it was as if this wall of protective glass had disappeared,” he told CBS News earlier. ‘I was completely disbelieving … I did not drink and did not hang her by a window. I just wanted to knock on the glass with her like we did so many times before … I was placed in charge of keeping my beautiful granddaughter safe and I failed. ‘
The Wiegand family did not plead guilty to the charges. But he was charged with negligent murder by prosecutors in Puerto Rico, where the ship got stuck during Wiegand’s death.
Anello originally pleaded not guilty to the charges. But after months of legal battle, he agreed to plead guilty in October 2020.
‘This decision was incredibly difficult for Sam and the family, but because the plea agreement does not include any imprisonment and no admission of facts, it was decided that the plea agreement is in the best interests of the family so that they can close this horrible case. chapter and focus on mourning Chloe and fighting for the safety of passengers, ”the family’s lawyer said at the time.
Wiegand’s family has sued Royal Caribbean, claiming that the company does not provide ‘reasonably safe children’s entertainment areas, including reasonably safe windows. An attorney for the family had earlier told CBS News that the ship did not comply with safety regulations and had to be equipped with fall protection windows, screens and a device that would prevent the window from opening more than four inches. The company denies the allegations.
David Begnaud reported.