Thai court upholds life sentence for Spanish actor’s son over Colombian surgeon’s murder

Surat Thani — Thailand's Court of Appeals Region 8 has maintained a life sentence for Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo who was convicted of the premeditated murder and dismemberment of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on Koh Phangan in 2023. The court's ruling was delivered on September 25 at Koh Samui Provincial Court, rejecting appeals by both Sancho and Arrieta's parents.

The Supreme Court dismissed Sancho's claim that Arrieta died accidentally during a fight, which contradicted his earlier statements to investigators. It was revealed that Sancho had purchased a knife, saw, cleaver, rubbish bags, rubber gloves, and cleaning equipment prior to Arrieta's arrival on Koh Phangan and kept these items in his hotel room.

The court determined that Sancho could have sought medical help or contacted hotel staff after Arrieta's injury, but instead remained in the room for approximately an hour before dismembering the body. The verdict concluded that the murder was premeditated. Initially, Sancho had been sentenced to death by the Koh Samui Provincial Court, but this was reduced to life imprisonment after considering his confession.

The Court of Appeals Region 8 affirmed that the initial court's sentence and compensation order were lawful, upholding the decision. Arrieta's parents had joined the lawsuit as co-plaintiffs and sought 30 million baht in compensation, which was ordered by the court of first instance. The appellate court confirmed that this compensation order was valid.