Daniel Sancho, son of popular actor Rodolfo Sancho, is currently on trial in Thailand for the high-profile case of the death and dismemberment of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta in August. Sancho, facing the death penalty, is being defended by a team of lawyers who are confident that the evidence and Sancho’s testimony will sway the court. Sancho argues that he acted in self-defense and that Arrieta died from a blow to the head during a disagreement in their hotel room on the island of Koh Phangan.
Sancho, 29, and Arrieta, 44, had planned to meet on August 2 in Koh Pangan, a popular tourist island known for its full moon party. Sancho arrived a couple of days early and intended to stay in the area for a few weeks. He reported Arrieta missing on August 3 and was formally detained two days later after confessing to the crime. Besides the charge of premeditated murder, Sancho also faces accusations of dismemberment, hiding the body, and destroying the victim’s passport. The autopsy was inconclusive due to missing body parts, such as the torso.
The Thai police allege that Sancho planned the crime based on evidence like surveillance footage of him purchasing kitchen utensils and cleaning products. However, Sancho’s defense team plans to prove that these items were bought for a different purpose and is arguing that there was an attempted rape by Arrieta, which would justify a lesser charge of accidental or negligent homicide. Sancho has been in pretrial detention since August 7 and the trial, taking place 10,500 kilometers from Madrid, has garnered significant media attention in Spain.
The defense team for Sancho plans to call up to 30 witnesses, including forensic experts, and present evidence disputing the prosecution’s claims. The trial is expected to last until early May, with a judgment to follow shortly after. Despite the severity of the charges, the defense is hopeful that Sancho’s cooperation with the investigation and the lack of prior cases where a foreigner received the death penalty in Thailand could result in a reduced sentence, possibly allowing Sancho to return to Spain after serving a portion of his term.
The family of the victim, Edwin Arrieta, has legal representation in Spain who are confident in the evidence gathered by the police, emphasizing the high standards of quality in the investigation. The defense team criticizes the former police chief’s premature statement attributing Arrieta’s death to stab wounds without scientific evidence. They are hopeful that the trial will not result in the death penalty for Sancho, as recent years have seen commuted death sentences in Thailand. Ultimately, they trust that justice will be served, and the truth will prevail during the trial process in Thailand.
