BANGKOK, THAILAND – A member of a notable Spanish acting family, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of premeditated murder in a high-profile case that shook the nation. The Koh Samui Provincial Court initially sentenced Sancho to death, but this was later commuted to life imprisonment due to his cooperation during the trial, according to Police Col. Paisan Sangthep.
Sancho, a 30-year-old chef with a popular YouTube channel, was charged with the murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old plastic surgeon from Colombia, while both were on vacation on the Thai holiday island of Koh Pha-ngan in August of last year. The case gained attention due to the island’s reputation for its monthly “Full Moon” beach parties.
The convicted man comes from a prominent Spanish acting family, with his parents, Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo, also notable figures in the entertainment industry. They were present at the court session where Sancho was also ordered to pay over 4.2 million baht ($125,000) in compensation to the victim’s family.
During the trial, Sancho claimed that he got into a fight with Arrieta after allegedly being sexually assaulted, leading to Arrieta’s death. He admitted to dismembering the victim’s body and disposing of the parts on land and at sea. Despite pleading not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, he received a sentence for concealing the body and destroying the victim’s passport.
The case attracted widespread media attention in Spain due to its elements of violence, celebrity connections, and shocking details. HBO even produced a documentary on the events. The trial revealed damning evidence, including surveillance video showing Sancho purchasing items before Arrieta’s death, leading prosecutors to argue for premeditated murder.
In his closing statement, Sancho expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging the loss of life and the impact on the victim’s family. Under a repatriation treaty between Thailand and Spain, Sancho may seek to serve the remainder of his sentence in his home country after a period of incarceration in Thailand. The case has drawn parallels to another Spanish national, Artur Segarra Princep, convicted of a similar crime in Thailand.