A Thai court has sentenced Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo to life in prison for the murder and dismemberment of a Colombian man on the tourist island of Koh Phangan. The ruling was made on Thursday by the Koh Samui Provincial Court, which found the 30-year-old Sancho guilty of killing 44-year-old plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga.
The murder occurred in August 2023 when Sancho and Arrieta met after agreeing to connect online. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Sancho had dismembered Arrieta’s body and concealed the remains on the island. Reports indicated that waste collectors discovered parts of the victim’s body, including a severed pelvis and intestines, weighing approximately 5 kilograms (around 11 pounds), hidden in a fertilizer bag.
Sancho, who comes from a prominent Spanish acting family, denied premeditated murder but admitted to dismembering the victim and disposing of the body parts both on land and at sea. His defense argued that he acted in self-defense, claiming that Arrieta had allegedly attempted to force him into a sexual encounter, which led to a struggle resulting in Arrieta falling, hitting his head, losing consciousness, and eventually dying.
The case garnered significant attention in Spain, partly due to Sancho’s father, Rodolfo Sancho, who is a well-known actor. The investigation also included surveillance footage showing Sancho purchasing a knife, rubber gloves, trash bags, and cleaning supplies the day before Arrieta was reported missing. This evidence was considered by prosecutors as indicative of premeditated murder.
The initial ruling was a death sentence, but it was later commuted to life imprisonment during the trial proceedings. Sancho was also ordered to pay approximately 4.4 million baht (about 130,000 US dollars) in compensation to Arrieta’s family. Bussakorn Kaewleeled, the lawyer for the victim’s family, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that they were pleased Sancho would spend the rest of his life in prison and that they would receive some financial compensation.
In his closing statement, Sancho expressed remorse for his actions and conveyed his sorrow over the loss of a life that has left parents without their son. According to a treaty between Thailand and Spain, Sancho may be able to apply for transfer to serve his sentence in Spain under certain conditions after spending several years in a Thai prison.