By A Thai court on Thursday sentenced Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a 30-year-old Spanish YouTube chef and son of prominent actors, to life in prison for the premeditated murder of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. The gruesome case, which involved the dismemberment of the victim, has captured international attention due to its lurid details and the defendant’s celebrity connections.
The Koh Samui Provincial Court initially handed down a death sentence but commuted it to life imprisonment in light of Sancho’s cooperation during the trial. Police Col. Paisan Sangthep, deputy commander of the Surat Thani Provincial Police, who attended the hearing, confirmed the court’s decision.
The murder took place in August 2023 on the Thai island of Koh Pha-ngan, famous for its monthly “Full Moon” beach parties that attract global travelers. Sancho and Arrieta, 44, were both vacationing on the island when the incident occurred.
Sancho, son of well-known Spanish actors Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo, both 49, had pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder. During the trial, he claimed that he got into a fight with Arrieta after the surgeon allegedly attempted to sexually assault him. Sancho stated that Arrieta fell during the scuffle, hit his head on a bathtub, lost consciousness, and subsequently died.
However, prosecutors presented evidence that they argued proved premeditation. This included surveillance video showing Sancho purchasing a knife, rubber gloves, garbage bags, and cleaning solutions at a convenience store before Arrieta’s death.
The case came to light when trash collectors discovered human remains, described by the Bangkok Post as a sawed-off pelvis and intestines weighing about 5 kilograms (11 pounds), in a fertilizer sack at a garbage dump. Sancho later reported Arrieta missing, leading police to gather evidence linking the two men.
In addition to the life sentence for murder, Sancho received a two-month prison term for concealing and damaging a body, reduced from four months due to his acknowledgment of the act. He was also sentenced to two years in prison for destroying Arrieta’s passport.
The court ordered Sancho to pay more than 4.2 million baht ($125,000) in compensation to the victim’s family, significantly less than the 30 million baht ($882,000) requested by lawyers representing the family.
Following the verdict, Sancho’s father, Rodolfo, told media that he intended “to always keep fighting, to keep fighting,” hinting at a potential appeal or further legal action.
The case has garnered extensive media coverage in Spain, with HBO producing a Spanish-language documentary on the events. The combination of a violent death on a holiday island, celebrity connections, and gruesome details has fueled intense public interest.
Under certain conditions, Sancho may be eligible for repatriation to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain after several years of incarceration in Thailand, based on a treaty between the two countries.
This case adds to the handful of Spanish nationals currently in Thai prisons, including another man convicted of premeditated murder and dismemberment. Artur Segarra Princep, convicted in 2017 for the 2016 killing of fellow Spaniard David Bernat, had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 2020 by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. As the legal proceedings conclude, the case continues to raise questions about international crime, justice systems across borders, and the impact of high-profile cases on diplomatic relations and public perception
apnews.com
