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Pictured: Mural for Mill Basin resident, Paul Zaccaria. From left to right: Depiction of accident, his entrance into heaven, and portrait of Zaccaria.

At 6154 Avenue U there is a mural painted in memory of a young teenager who resided in Mill Basin until his death in 2006. On June 30th of 2006 Paul Zaccaria, 17, and his friend Aristotle Plagianakos, 19, went out on their jet skis looking for a good time off the waters in Mill Basin. Out on the water the two teenagers were having fun when Plagianakos jet ski slammed into Zaccaria’s, severing his aorta and killing him.

3 years later and now Plagianakos is fighting back claiming that Zaccaria was high on pot when the accident occured and that, in fact, he was the one who was speeding. Aristotle Plagianakos faces 15 years in prison if he is convicted.

In opening statements, the defense lawyer for Plagianakos, Joseph Tacopina, said Zaccaria was the one speeding. “Paul Zaccaria caused this accident 45 minutes after he inhaled marijuana,” Tacopina said.

Tacopina wanted to tell jurors police had found 15 glassine envelopes of marijuana hidden inside Zaccaria’s Jet Ski, but Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Deborah Dowling deemed it too prejudicial and not relevant to the case.

Prosecutors still contend that Plagianakos aimed his vehicle at Zaccaria, sped up and killed him. Prosecutors also point out that Plagianakos left the scene of the crime that day in 2006. ”And the defendant doesn’t stick around to help; he doesn’t even look for his victim.” says Assistant District Attorney Kyle Reeves, who is standing in defense of Zaccaria.

Zaccaria’s mother, Jo-Ann, says she never wanted her son to get a jet-ski, and is calling for stricter laws in regard to jet-skis, wanting any jet-ski owner to take a course before getting on, live vests, and is also calling for all jet ski riders to be at least 14.

Pictured: Jo-Ann Zaccaria holding photos of her son.