Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, son of renowned actor Rodolfo Sancho, has been sentenced to life in prison in Thailand for the murder and dismemberment of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the island of Koh Phangan. Sancho, who has a YouTube channel, denied premeditated murder but admitted to cutting up and concealing Arrieta’s body after the incident during a holiday in August 2023. The defence argued that Sancho acted in self-defence after Arrieta tried to force him into sex, resulting in Arrieta’s accidental death. The case gained widespread attention in Spain due to Sancho’s family’s celebrity status, with dozens of reporters attending the trial.
The court initially sentenced Sancho to death, but this was commuted to life imprisonment after he provided an account of the events during cross-examination. Sancho was ordered to pay 4.4 million baht to Arrieta’s family as compensation. Although the victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the sentence, they believed it was appropriate for Sancho to face life in prison. Sancho’s lawyer acknowledged that they did not expect the life sentence but respected the decision of Thai justice.
In his closing statement, Sancho expressed remorse for his actions, apologizing for the loss of life and the pain caused to Arrieta’s family. He may apply for repatriation to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain after serving several years in a Thai prison, according to a treaty between the two countries. The case serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of violent actions, even for individuals from privileged backgrounds.
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