At 10:00 a.m., judges in Thailand rejected appeals against Daniel Sancho’s life sentence for the premeditated murder of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta. Both Sancho’s defense and the victim’s family sought to change the outcome, but the sentence stands.
The ruling upheld the August 2024 verdict from Koh Phangan, which found Sancho guilty of premeditated murder. The court cited his first confession, which spared him the death penalty; he was sentenced to life in prison instead. Sancho’s lawyer, Ramón Chippirrás, must now study the full written judgment, which must be translated before the defense can plan its next move. Several independent reports said the appellate decision came from the Phuket court but was formally announced by the Samui court, which handled the case first. The order requiring compensation for Arrieta’s family remains in place, as reported by El País and La Voz de Galicia.
Sancho is the son of actor Rodolfo Sancho and investment analyst Silvia Bronchalo. Prosecutors said he planned and carried out the killing in August 2023. The defense argued that Arrieta died during a fight and claimed his death was accidental during an alleged sexual assault. The court rejected that account and found the evidence sufficient to uphold the conviction. Spanish and international media, citing official court statements, reported the life sentence and the rejection of all appeals.
Arrieta’s family sought the death penalty, while Sancho’s lawyers pushed for a retrial; both requests failed. The judges rejected the defense’s self-defense claim, and the prosecution’s case for premeditation prevailed. The August 2024 verdict reduced the death sentence to life because Sancho confessed early, a detail highlighted in coverage by Todo Alicante and Libertad Digital.
The Koh Samui court maintained its position throughout the process, finding the evidence strong and rejecting the appeals. With the appeals exhausted, Sancho’s options are almost gone. His defense must wait for the official translation of the court’s reasoning before considering any further measures.
