THE lawyer representing the family of a Colombian surgeon who was allegedly murdered by the son of a famous Spanish actor in Thailand expressed hope that Thai prosecutors will be fair and deliver justice after the accused made another testimony this week.
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a chef with a YouTube channel, was arrested in Thailand in August 2023 for the suspected murder and dismemberment of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga.
The rising star chef was arrested shortly after body parts were found stuffed in plastic bags at a landfill on the popular tourist island of Koh Phangan. The case has shaken one of the world’s most popular tourist islands known for hosting full moon parties.
Initial reports said Sancho initially confessed to the murder of Arrieta after a heated argument which led him to dismember the victim’s body and spread it at different locations on the island, according to police sources.
He was indicted in October over Arrieta’s death and pleaded not guilty at a hearing in November.
Besides premeditated murder, the Spanish national also faces charges for concealment of a body; and destruction of documentation, after the 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon’s passport went missing.
To date, Sancho had pleaded not guilty to both the murder and the crime of destroying other people’s documentation but pleaded guilty to hiding the victim’s body.
The murder trial started in April at Koh Samui Provincial Court.
In presenting his testimony, Sancho used English and Spanish to answer both the defense and plaintiff’s questions on Wednesday, the 1st of May.
The 29-year-old chef was the son of locally famous Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho and actress Silvia Bronchalo.
His father visited him for the first time in September since his detainment. The murder charges concerning the famous Spanish actor’s son made local and international headlines, putting their family under the spotlight.
Thailand issues a death penalty sentence for a premeditated murder though it is seldom applied against foreign nationals. The family of the Colombian surgeon said they will not seek the death penalty against Sancho but would like to see justice served for their loved one.
