KOH SAMUI: A Thai court on Thursday jailed a famous Spanish actor’s son for life for the grisly murder of a Colombian plastic surgeon on a tropical holiday island, in a lurid case that has gripped Spain.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a 30-year-old chef, was found guilty of the premeditated murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the tourist island of Koh Phangan last year.

The case has generated enormous interest in Spain because the defendant’s father Rodolfo Sancho is a well-known actor, and scores of Spanish reporters have flown in for the trial.

The court on the island of Koh Samui said in a statement that Sancho had been given a life sentence and ordered to pay 4.4 million Thai baht to Arrieta’s family.

Bussakorn Kaewleeled, a lawyer for the victim’s family, said they were happy with the outcome. “The plaintiff is satisfied with the sentence because he will be put in prison for life and they receive some financial compensation,” Bussakorn told reporters outside the court on the island of Koh Samui.

“The verdict has been delivered, both sides have the right to appeal according to Thai law,” Bussakorn added. When asked about Sancho’s reaction, she said: “He is sad, but we can’t forget the loss of the dead one”.

The trial heard that Sancho chopped up Arrieta’s body and put the parts in plastic bags before distributing them around Koh Phangan. “We didn’t expect it (the life sentence) but we must accept what the Thai justice has said, we have to respect it,” Carmen Balfagon, a lawyer for Rodolfo Sancho, told reporters.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2024