Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of a famous Spanish actor, has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Thailand for the murder and dismemberment of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the island of Koh Phangan.
The incident took place in August 2023 when Sancho and Arrieta met while on holiday on Koh Phangan. Sancho was found guilty of chopping up Arrieta’s body and concealing the parts in plastic bags around the island. Sancho denied premeditated murder but admitted to dismembering the victim’s body and disposing of the parts both on land and at sea.
Sancho claimed that he acted in self-defence after Arrieta tried to force him to have sex, resulting in Arrieta hitting his head on a bathtub and dying. However, evidence including surveillance video of Sancho purchasing items before Arrieta’s death supported the charge of premeditated murder.
The court initially sentenced Sancho to death, but this was commuted to life imprisonment. Sancho was ordered to pay compensation to Arrieta’s family. Lawyers for both parties expressed their acceptance of the court’s decision.
Sancho expressed regret for his actions in his closing statement and may be eligible for repatriation to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain under certain conditions after a period of imprisonment in Thailand.
The case has attracted significant attention in Spain due to Sancho’s family background in acting, with numerous reporters covering the trial. The victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the sentence and compensation received.
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