BANGKOK, Thailand. Daniel Sancho, the son of renowned Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Thai court for the brutal murder of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. The sentencing took place on Thursday, following a trial that revealed shocking details of the crime committed on the island of Koh Phangan, a popular holiday destination in southern Thailand.
Sancho, a 30-year-old chef known for his YouTube videos, was found guilty of murdering Arrieta in a hotel room last year, during what police described as a violent altercation. According to the court, after killing Arrieta, Sancho dismembered the body and scattered the remains in various locations around the island, concealing them in plastic bags.
Initially facing the death penalty, Sancho’s sentence was reduced to life imprisonment due to his cooperation during the trial. Police Colonel Paisan Sangthep, deputy commander of the Surat Thani Provincial Police, who was present at the hearing, explained, “The court saw his confession to the murder as useful during the trial. So the court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.”
During the trial, Sancho admitted to killing Arrieta but claimed it was not premeditated, arguing that he acted “out of extreme anger” during their fight. However, the court found him guilty on multiple charges, including premeditated murder, concealment of a body, and hiding another person’s documents.
Evidence presented during the trial suggested that the murder was planned. “Before committing the murder, the defendant had bought a knife, gloves, plastic bags, garbage bags, a cleaning sponge, a cleaver knife, and a saw,” Paisan stated, indicating the level of preparation involved. Additionally, Sancho had booked a room in a different hotel from where the killing occurred, further suggesting premeditation.
Sancho’s parents, actors Silvia Bronchalo and Rodolfo Sancho, attended the court proceedings, though the family of the deceased was not present. Rodolfo Sancho is a well-known figure in Spanish television, having starred in popular series such as “The Ministry of Time” and “Isabel.”
Daniel Sancho was arrested in August last year, shortly after the discovery of Arrieta’s dismembered body. According to Paisan, appearing in court with a face mask, Sancho reportedly “accepted his fate, with no objection” following the sentencing.
Sancho’s lawyer, Marcos Garcia-Montes, has announced plans to appeal the sentence, stating that under Thai law, Sancho has the right to seek a review by a higher court. The legal battle is expected to continue as Sancho attempts to challenge the life sentence handed down by the Thai judiciary.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
