Son of Spanish actor jailed for murder of surgeon

The son of a famous Spanish actor has been sentenced to life in prison after killing and dismembering a man on the southern Thai island of Koh Phangan last year.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of television star Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre, claimed he killed Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga in self-defense. He pleaded guilty to the murder in August 2023.

At the time, Sancho, now 30, told the Spanish news agency EFE that he had been a “hostage” of Arrieta, who he said was obsessed with him.

The case has aroused great interest in Spain and numerous Spanish reporters have flown to Thailand to attend the trial.

Sancho was found guilty of premeditated murder, concealing a corpse and criminal damage.

A court on the nearby island of Koh Samui, where the case was heard, initially imposed a death sentence for murder, but this was commuted to life imprisonment in light of his cooperation during the trial.

Sancho, a cook who his own YouTube channelwas also ordered to pay 4 million baht ($118,000; £89,000) in damages to Arrieta's family.

Bussakorn Kaewleeled, a lawyer for the victim's family, said they were satisfied with the outcome.

“The plaintiff is satisfied with the verdict as he (Sancho) will be sentenced to life in prison and they (the plaintiff) will receive financial compensation,” Bussakorn told reporters outside the court on the island of Koh Samui, AFP news agency reported.

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

At about the same time, Sancho went to the police to report Arrieta, then 44, as missing.

When questioned further, Sancho admitted to killing Arrieta.

Thai media reported last year that investigations revealed that Sancho had purchased a knife, rubber gloves and a bottle of cleaning fluid, among other items. Police therefore concluded that the murder was premeditated.

Sancho later led police to seven locations around the island where he disposed of Arrieta's dismembered body in plastic bags.

Sancho and Arrieta reportedly arranged to meet after meeting online.

The defense argued that Sancho acted in self-defense after Arrieta tried to force him to have sex. Sancho said the plastic surgeon was “trying to [him]”, says a statement in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

Sancho comes from a family of actors. His mother is the actress Silvia Bronchalo, while his grandfather is the late actor Félix Ángel Sancho Gracia.

Additional reporting by Ryn Jirenuwat in Bangkok