His motivations still remain unclear, almost a year after the crime. The trial of the son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, accused of killing and dismembering the body of a man on the tourist island of Koh Phangan, in southern Thailand, opened this Tuesday in Koh Samui , a neighboring island.
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Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a 30-year-old cook, is being prosecuted for the premeditated murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old plastic surgeon renowned in Colombia, in the summer of 2023.
Refusal to answer questions
He pleaded not guilty at a hearing in November. He faces the death penalty. His trial opened this Tuesday morning in scorching heat at the Koh Samui court, where dozens of Spanish journalists attended.
The press was not allowed access to the tiny courtroom. The accused's father, famous television actor Rodolfo Sancho, arrived at the court shortly after 8:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. Pais time) and said his son was "fine" before storming into the courtroom. Apichart Srinual, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo's lawyer, confirmed that his client would appear in court, but refused to answer journalists' questions.
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Lawyer Juan Gonzalo Ospina Serrano, who represents the victim's family, said outside court before the trial that he hoped "the truth can be told." “We hope that the family can bring closure to this painful stage of their lives and begin their mourning,” he added.
Mobile not clearly established
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo has been in pre-trial detention since August, after “admitting” to the murder, according to police. The motive for this murder is not clearly established. The trial is expected to last until mid-May, with many witnesses expected to appear.
According to Spanish media, Daniel Sancho and Arrieta came into contact on Instagram in 2022, before meeting in Thailand, where the accused arrived as a tourist on July 31. In early August, body parts, including hips and thighs belonging to the surgeon, according to police, were discovered in a dump.
CCTV footage obtained by local media showed Daniel Sancho and the victim together on a motorbike shortly before the remains were discovered.