Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of a famous Spanish actor, was sentenced to life in prison by a Thai court for the murder of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. The crime took place on the tourist island of Koh Phangan in August 2023.
Sancho, a 30-year-old chef with a YouTube channel, was found guilty of premeditated murder after he admitted to killing Arrieta, dismembering his body, and attempting to hide the remains. The case has attracted significant attention in Spain due to Sancho’s connection to his well-known father, Rodolfo Sancho.
The trial and subsequent sentencing were closely followed by Spanish media, with many reporters flying to Thailand to cover the proceedings. Both of Sancho’s parents, including his mother Silvia Bronchalo, were present at the sentencing.
The victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the life sentence, which included some financial compensation. Although the court initially sentenced Sancho to death, his cooperation during the trial led to the sentence being reduced to life imprisonment.
Life Sentence for Spanish Actor’s Son in Gruesome Murder of Colombian Surgeon in Thailand
Details of the crime were particularly gruesome, with evidence presented during the trial showing that Sancho dismembered Arrieta’s body and disposed of it at various locations around Koh Phangan.
Despite the seriousness of the crime, Thailand’s death penalty is rarely carried out, with the last execution occurring in 2018. The victim’s family, while initially seeking justice, ultimately supported a life sentence, expressing a desire for Sancho to reflect on his actions for the rest of his life.
Sancho’s defense argued that the killing was an act of self-defense, claiming that Arrieta had attempted to sexually assault him. Sancho stated that during a struggle, Arrieta fell, hit his head on a bathtub, and died.
However, the prosecution presented evidence that Sancho had premeditated the murder, including purchasing knives and other supplies before the crime. This evidence contradicted Sancho’s claim of self-defense and played a significant role in the court’s decision.
The case has sparked widespread debate and media coverage, partly due to the involvement of Sancho’s famous father, Rodolfo Sancho, who has appeared in numerous films and TV shows. The conflicting accounts of what happened between Sancho and Arrieta have added complexity to the case, but the court ultimately found Sancho guilty of premeditated murder, leading to his life sentence in a Thai prison.
