KOH PHA-NGAN, Thailand – A Spanish chef has been sentenced to life imprisonment on Aug 30 by a Thai court for the murder and dismemberment of a Colombian plastic surgeon on the island of Koh Pha-ngan, in a case that has drawn international attention.
Daniel Jeronimo Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was found guilty of premeditated murder and concealing the body of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old surgeon. The court also ordered Sancho to pay 4 million baht (approximately US$118,000) in compensation to the victim’s family.
Sancho expressed remorse for his actions during the trial, reportedly crying throughout the proceedings. Sancho’s parents were present in court for the verdict.
The high-profile case garnered global media interest due to Sancho’s family connections. He is the son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho and the grandson of legendary Spanish actor Felix Angel Sancho Gracia.
The gruesome murder took place on August 3, 2023, when Sancho killed Edwin Arrieta, in a bungalow on Koh Pha-ngan. He then dismembered the body into 14 pieces, which were disposed of in trash bags at various waste collection points and in the sea.
According to the investigation, the motive stemmed from a sexual encounter. Sancho claimed Arrieta had requested sexual relations, which he refused, leading to a physical altercation. The victim allegedly fell and hit his head on a bathtub, resulting in his death. (TNA)
