Daniel Sancho stays in a Thai prison after the Koh Samui court threw out his appeal and confirmed his life sentence for killing Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta. The case has drawn global attention and now looks settled for both sides.
Daniel Sancho’s bid for a lighter sentence ended in defeat. The Koh Samui court ruled that his life sentence for killing Edwin Arrieta will not change. Sancho, a Spanish national, heard the decision by videoconference from Surat Thani prison. The Thai court left no doubt about its position.
The court confirmed its August 2024 verdict. Sancho is still convicted of murder, dismembering Arrieta’s body, and hiding the remains. The crime happened on August 2, 2023, on Koh Phangan. Sancho could have faced the death penalty. Judges pointed to his early confession as the reason for sparing his life and giving him life in prison instead. Reports from Spanish and international media say the court also kept his conviction for destroying Arrieta’s passport. That was treated as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
On September 25, 2026, the Thai court definitively rejected both the defense and prosecution appeals, confirming the life sentence for Daniel Sancho.
Sancho’s lawyers filed their appeal in March 2025. They argued that Arrieta’s death was an accident during a fight. They asked for a retrial or a new hearing. The court rejected these claims. On the other side, Arrieta’s family wanted a harsher sentence. They appealed in December 2024, asking for the death penalty and more compensation—over 4.42 million baht, or about 117,000 euros. After this latest ruling, the family’s lawyers said they would not appeal again. Agency sources say the compensation demand was a key issue, but the court’s decision now looks final for the family.
This is not the last possible step. Both sides can still go to Thailand’s Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country. Until that happens, the sentence is not fully final. Sancho’s possible transfer to Spain to serve his sentence is also on hold. Agency reports confirm that the Supreme Court is the last place for any further legal challenge in Thailand.
For now, Sancho stays in Surat Thani prison. The Arrieta family keeps pushing for the toughest punishment. The case is now in a waiting period, with both sides deciding whether to go to the Supreme Court. As reported earlier, the case has drawn international attention, and both legal teams have used every option allowed by Thai law.
The initial verdict in August 2024 took into account Sancho's confession, which was considered a mitigating factor and led the court to impose life imprisonment instead of the death penalty. The case has consistently attracted significant media attention due to the involvement of foreign nationals and the brutality of the crime.
The Thai court’s refusal to change the sentence shows how seriously the country treats violent crime, especially when foreigners are involved. The outcome is clear: a confession can help, but it does not erase the crime. Sancho’s options are now limited. For the Arrieta family, the fight for justice has reached its last legal stage. The case is a blunt example of how Thailand’s courts handle brutal crimes involving foreign nationals.
