The son of a famous Spanish actor has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder and dismemberment of a Colombian man on the Thai island of Koh Phangan.
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 30, the son of renowned television star Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre, was found guilty of the brutal murder of 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga in August 2023.
Sancho, a chef and YouTube personality, admitted to the murder during his trial on the nearby island of Koh Samui. He claimed he acted in self-defense after Arrieta allegedly attempted to sexually assault him. Sancho stated that a struggle ensued, during which Arrieta fell and hit his head on a bathtub, leading to his death. Sancho then dismembered Arrieta’s body and disposed of the parts around Koh Phangan.
The case has received a lot of attention in Spain, thanks in part to Sancho’s family history, which includes a long line of famous actors. Scores of Spanish journalists traveled to Thailand to cover the trial.
Initially, the Koh Samui Provincial Court sentenced Sancho to death for premeditated murder. However, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, acknowledging Sancho’s cooperation during the trial. In addition to his prison sentence, Sancho was ordered to pay 4 million baht (approximately $118,000) in damages to the victim’s family.
The murder came to light after parts of Arrieta’s body were discovered at a landfill on Koh Phangan, leading to Sancho’s arrest. During the investigation, Thai police found evidence, including surveillance footage, that suggested the murder was premeditated, further supporting the court’s ruling.
While the victim’s family was pleased with the life sentence and compensation, Sancho’s legal team accepted the court’s decision and stated that they would respect the outcome.
Sancho may be eligible for repatriation to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain after spending several years in a Thai prison, under a treaty between Thailand and Spain.
Aljazeera, BBC and the Gurdian contributed to this report.
