Spanish actor's son sentenced to prison for shocking murder

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of another individual on the island of Koh Phangan in southern Thailand. The convicted individual happens to be the son of a well-known Spanish actor.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of television star Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre, had stated that he acted in self-defence when he allegedly killed Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. In August 2023, he admitted his guilt for the murder.

During the interview, Sancho, now 30, revealed to Spanish news agency EFE that he had felt like a "hostage" to Arrieta. He described Arrieta as being obsessed with him.

The trial in Thailand has attracted significant attention from Spain, and numerous Spanish reporters have travelled to cover the case.

Sancho has been convicted of premeditated murder, concealing a corpse, and destruction of property.

The court on the nearby island of Koh Samui, where the case was heard, initially handed down a death sentence for murder. However, after considering his cooperation during the trial, the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Sancho, a chef with his own YouTube channel, has been ordered to pay 4 million baht ($118,000; £89,000) in damages to Arrieta's family.

Bussakorn Kaewleeled, the lawyer representing the victim's family, expressed their satisfaction with the result.

The plaintiff expressed satisfaction with the sentence, as it entails a life sentence for Sancho and provides them with some financial compensation.

According to AFP news agency, Bussakorn informed reporters outside the court on the island of Koh Samui.

In early August last year, parts of Arrieta's body were discovered by the police at a landfill in Koh Phangan.

At approximately the same time, Sancho visited the local police station to officially report the disappearance of Arrieta, who was 44 years old at the time.

After being pressed for more information, Sancho confessed to the murder of Arrieta.

Last year, Thai media outlets reported on the findings of investigations, which revealed that Sancho had purchased various items such as a knife, rubber gloves, and a bottle of cleaning agent. These findings led the police to conclude that the murder had been premeditated.

Sancho later assisted the police in locating seven sites across the island, where he allegedly disposed of Arrieta's dismembered body by placing it in plastic bags.

According to reports, Sancho and Arrieta had arranged a meeting after establishing a connection through online communication.

According to the defence, Sancho claimed that he acted in self-defence when Arrieta allegedly attempted to coerce him into engaging in sexual activity. According to a statement published by Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Sancho alleged that the plastic surgeon tried to assault him sexually.

Sancho comes from a family with a rich history in acting. Silvia Bronchalo is an actress, and Félix Ángel Sancho Gracia was a renowned actor who has sadly passed away.