A man from the United Kingdom is potentially facing a maximum of 20 years in prison following his conviction for the drug-induced killing of another man during a weekend rendezvous. Aaron Rainbow, a helicopter pilot aged 50 and originally hailing from Surrey, was found by a jury to have fatally stabbed Oscar Tornero, 38, in multiple locations on his body after the two indulged in crystal meth and GHB.
Rainbow had initially asserted a self-defence claim before his trial commenced on October 8, citing a state of confusion and paranoia induced by the combination of chemsex drugs consumed at Tornero’s residence in Vallgorguina, located half an hour north of the Catalan capital.
During his trial testimony, Rainbow expressed a lack of responsibility for the violent act, attributing his actions to fear and suspicion that his encounter with Oscar was being recorded and broadcast, with a perceived threat of imminent harm from unidentified individuals outside the premises. He recounted arming himself with a knife for protection and subsequently losing track of the number of times he stabbed Tornero, driven by a sense of imminent danger.
The incident, which occurred on October 17, 2023, led to Tornero attempting to flee his residence while severely wounded, as witnessed by a neighbor who contacted the authorities upon hearing Rainbow’s threatening outburst. The court also heard from a witness who had engaged in drug-fueled intimacy with Rainbow in London, where similar violent tendencies were displayed.
The prosecution painted a narrative of premeditated murder, detailing the events that unfolded when the accused and the victim had arranged a meeting involving drug use for sexual purposes. Rainbow’s defense centered on claims of temporary insanity, drug influence, and self-defence at the time of the fatal altercation.
Despite pleas for acquittal, Rainbow was found guilty by an 8-1 jury decision. The sentencing will be disclosed in writing by the trial judge, considering the two-year period Rainbow has spent in pretrial detention. The defense emphasized alleged investigative oversights and potential electronic evidence that could have supported Rainbow’s apprehensions of being monitored and targeted.
The victim’s family likened the case to a suspenseful drama, hinting at unexplored avenues of evidence that could have clarified Rainbow’s mindset during the tragic event. The eventual determination of Rainbow’s fate in the Spanish legal system awaits the judge’s sentencing decision and additional legal proceedings.