Spanish Jury Acquits Brutal Killer of Gay Couple

This is a very sad case from Spain that confirms that the USA is not the only allegedly progressive country where gays all too frequently cannot receive justice in the courts. The facts of this case are so egregious that it is hard to believe that any rational juror could have believed the killer's bizarre, unbelievable story. According to forensics, Jacobo Piñeiro Rial (pictured at left) murdered 27 year old Isaac Ali Dani Peréz Triviño and 32 year old Julio Anderson Luciano in their apartment in the early morning of January 13th, 2006. The bodies showed a total of 57 stab wounds. Piñiero's defense? That the couple with whom he went home after meeting in a gay bar had allegedly propositioned him during the night. Incredibly, the jury believed the bullshit story and acquitted Piñiero. What better evidence that in the minds of some the lives of gays have no value. Blabbeando has all the sick details - here are some highlights:

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27 year old Isaac Ali Dani Peréz Triviño (left) was born in Spain. 32 year old Julio Anderson Luciano (right) was born in Brazil. They lived together in the Spanish province of Vigo and were planning to get married.Both were stabbed to death by Jacobo Piñeiro Rial in their apartment in the early morning of January 13th, 2006. The bodies showed a total of 57 stab wounds, according to forensics.

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After killing them, Piñeiro took a shower and cleaned himself up. He filled a suitcase with some of their belongings to make it look like a robbery and then spilled clothing all over the place. He poured alcohol over everything, including his victims' bodies, turned on the gas spigot on the stove, and set everything on fire. The local fire department said that little evidence would have survived if it wasn't for their prompt response to the 5-alarm fire.

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Piñeiro hardly knew the men. Testimony revealed that Piñiero had spent the previous afternoon consuming cocaine and drinking at a gay bar called Strong at which Pérez Triviñio happened to work as a bartender. When his shift ended at 4:30pm, the bartender invited Piñeiro home. They spent the afternoon together until Anderson Luciano arrived around 10:30pm with two friends. . . . Anderson Luciano's friends left after the late dinner but Piñeiro stayed overnight.

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There are no independent witnesses, but police and forensic experts say that the murder rampage began around 4:00am. Apparently, Pérez Triviñio was stabbed first but did not die. Piñeiro then stabbed Anderson Luciano twice while in the couples' room, and 22 more times as he followed his victim out of the room, into a corridor and out to the living room - where he died. Pérez Triviñio, in the meantime, had locked himself in the room and records show that he was able to call local authorities. The call was cut short when Piñeiro was able to break back into the room and finish him off by stabbing him 35 more times.

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His defense? . . . . His lawyer argued that Piñeiro was overcome by an "insurmountable fear of being raped and being murdered" and that his judgment was clouded by the alcohol and cocaine he had consumed in the previous two days (forensic experts had stated earlier said the effect of the cocaine would have rubbed off long before the killings and that, once he was arrested, there were no traces of alcohol in his body which did not match up with the huge amount of alcohol that Piñeiro said he had ingested). In other words, his lawyer used the well-known 'gay panic' defense.

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The jury bought it! La Voz de Galicia says that Piñeiro almost walked out of the courtroom free. He was acquitted of murder charges, . . . Marta Pérez Triviñio, Isaac's mother, is heartbroken. She says that the jury's verdict is "homophobic, racist and brainless" and spoke of Jacobo as being almost like a second son. She broke down after the verdict, but has steadfastly demanded justice to whoever will listen.

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This is a despicable crime with an unfortunate court ruling. It might yet become Spain's very own Matthew Sheppard moment.

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Up to now, I've always wanted to visit Spain.