Grandfather changes to guilty plea in cruise ship toddler death
A grandfather who allegedly dropped his 18-month-old granddaughter from the 11th floor of a cruise ship will change his plea to guilty, according to his lawyer.
Salvatore “Sam” Anello, was charged with negligent homicide after Chloe Weigand fell from an open glass window on-board the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas ship in July while it was docked at Puerto Rico.
He and his family maintain that he is innocent, saying it was an accident as he wasn’t aware the window was open when he lifted the toddler up to bang on the glass – a game she enjoyed playing at home.
But the family’s lawyer revealed on Wednesday that Mr Annello will now plead guilty to the charge so he can avoid spending time in prison.
“This decision was an incredibly difficult one for Sam and the family, but because the plea agreement includes no jail time and no admission of facts, it was decided the plea deal is in the best interest of the family,” said Michael Winkleman in a statement.
Speaking to the US TODAY show last year, Chloe’s parents, Kimberley and Alan Wiegand, said Mr Anello had been “very, very distraught” ever since her tragic passing.
“You can barely look at him without crying, she was his best friend,” said Mr Wiegand.
The family is now suing the cruise ship company, accusing them of negligence by allowing the window in the ship’s children’s play area to be open.
“We still maintain this was a tragic, preventable accident that never would have occurred if Royal Caribbean followed the industry-standard window fall prevention codes that are designed for the singular purpose of preventing children from falling out of windows,” said Mr Winkleman.
“I just remember screaming, ‘I thought there was glass, I thought there was glass’,” Mr Anello told CBS in November.
“I still say it to myself. It’s just, I kind of relive it all the time and I just thought there was glass there. I don’t know what else to tell you.
“It seems like it’s all not real. She’s such a beautiful little girl. Perfect little girl.”