Life Sentence for Spanish Actor's Son in High-Profile Koh Phangan Murder

A Thai court has sentenced Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, to life in prison for the murder and dismemberment of Colombian citizen Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. Sancho, who pleaded guilty to concealing the body but denied premeditated murder, was also ordered to pay substantial compensation to the victim's family.

A Thai court on Thursday sentenced Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, to life imprisonment for the high-profile murder and dismemberment of a Colombian man last year. The criminal court on Samui island found Sancho, 30, guilty of premeditated murder, as confirmed in a court statement.

Sancho, who is also the son of actress Silvia Bronchalo, had pleaded guilty to concealing the victim's body but denied any premeditated intent to kill. According to court reports and Thai media, Sancho maintained that the killing of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, was in self-defense during their altercation in August 2023. His lawyer declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

A chef by profession, Sancho was on vacation in Thailand at the time. He gruesomely dismembered Arteaga's body and scattered the remains in plastic bags around the island of Koh Phangan. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was later commuted to life due to his account of events provided during cross-examination. Additionally, Sancho was ordered to pay 4.42 million baht ($130,230) in compensation to Arteaga's family.

(With inputs from agencies.)