A man from the UK is potentially facing a maximum of 20 years behind bars after being convicted of the drug-induced killing of a man he had met for a weekend rendezvous. Aaron Rainbow, a helicopter pilot aged 50, originally from Surrey, was found by a jury to have fatally and intentionally stabbed Oscar Tornero, aged 38, six times in various parts of his body following a binge on crystal meth and GHB.
Rainbow, prior to the commencement of his trial on October 8, had asserted that he acted in self-defense and that he experienced a “fight or flight” response when he became disoriented and paranoid due to the mix of chemsex drugs he had consumed at his victim’s residence in Vallgorguina, located 30 minutes north of the Catalan capital.
During his trial, Rainbow expressed, “I have the feeling I have not been responsible for this.” He further explained that he had become fearful and fixated on the belief that Oscar was recording and live-streaming their drug-fueled intimate encounter and that strangers were outside waiting to harm him.
The court was informed that Rainbow sought a knife for protection from the kitchen before locking the door. Although he claimed not to recall the number of times he stabbed the victim, he maintained, “My instinct told me I was in serious trouble.”
Oscar, who had a job at a fashion store and also worked as an escort, was seen by a neighbor attempting to escape his home severely wounded following the attack on October 17, 2023. The neighbor contacted the authorities after hearing the British man shout, “I’ll f##king kill you.”
Testimony was also presented from an individual who engaged in a drug-fueled intimate encounter with Aaron in London three days before the fatal incident. In a WhatsApp message, the individual recounted a violent encounter following drug consumption, stating, “I thought you would grab a knife to kill me.”
Representing Oscar’s family, their lawyer characterized the event as a chilling prelude. The pre-trial summary outlined the allegations, noting that the accused and the victim had arranged to meet for sexual activities and drug use, leading to the fatal stabbing.
The state prosecutor, Felix Martin, increased his prison request from 19 to 20 years following the jury’s decision, aligning with the victim’s family’s private prosecutor. Rainbow’s defense counsel had initially sought his client’s acquittal, citing temporary insanity, drug intoxication, and overwhelming fear as factors in the crime.
Rainbow’s family had likened the case to a suspenseful Netflix drama, alleging that Spanish authorities mishandled the investigation and neglected potential electronic evidence supporting his claims of surveillance and entrapment.
Rainbow was found guilty by an 8-1 majority vote. In Spain’s legal system, the sentencing will be determined at a later stage, with the judge communicating the decision in writing to the involved parties. The two years Rainbow has spent in custody since his arrest will be considered in determining his eventual release date.
