Thailand upholds life sentence for Daniel Sancho for Edwin Arrieta murder
Thailand's Appeal Court has upheld the life sentence of Spanish chef Daniel Sancho for the murder and dismemberment of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta.
Thai Appeal Court upholds Daniel Sancho's life sentence
Thailand's Region 8 Appeal Court rejected the appeal filed by the defence of Spanish chef Daniel Sancho and upheld the life sentence imposed for the murder of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta, according to rtvcnoticias.com.
The crime occurred on 2 August 2023 on the Thai island of Koh Phangan. Sancho—son of actor Rodolfo Sancho and grandson of Sancho Gracia—murdered and dismembered Arrieta during what both had planned as a holiday break. The remains of the victim, distributed in bags, were found at various points on the island, including the sea. Sancho initially reported Arrieta's disappearance but ultimately confessed to the crime to Thai police.
The trial was held in Samui Court between 9 April and 2 May 2024. In August of that year, Thai justice declared Sancho guilty of three offences. Although premeditated murder can carry the death penalty in Thailand, the judge took Sancho's initial confession as a mitigating factor and set the sentence at life imprisonment. The ruling also included compensation of approximately 107,000 euros—4 million baht—for Arrieta's family.
The thesis of premeditation proved decisive. The Thai prosecution presented as evidence that Sancho had purchased knives, a saw, a machete, rubbish bags, gloves and cleaning products the day before the crime. The defence argued that the events occurred in the context of a fight, following an alleged attempted sexual assault by Arrieta, a contention that the courts rejected.
The defence requested the trial to be repeated or a new hearing held with additional witnesses, including police colonel Paisan Sangthep. The appeal court judges rejected the appeal firmly, concluding that there was no need for additional evidence and that both the detention and investigation fully complied with the law.
The Ospina Abogados law firm, which represents Arrieta's family in Spain, described the decision as recognition of the gravity of the facts and criminal responsibility. The family's lawyer in Thailand, Metapon Suwancharen, was satisfied with the ruling and confirmed that they would not appeal to the Supreme Court.
A new session was scheduled for 7 October at which the private prosecution's claim—known in Thailand as co-prosecution—would be resolved, although it was not confirmed whether that hearing would take place.
Source: Google News CO — Crime