Thai Court Sentences Spanish Chef to Life in Prison

A Thai court has sentenced Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a member of a renowned Spanish acting family, to life in prison for premeditated murder. Sancho, a 30-year-old chef and YouTuber, was initially handed the death penalty by the Koh Samui Provincial Court. However, this was reduced due to his cooperation during the trial, confirmed Police Col. Paisan Sangthep.

Sancho was convicted of the murder of 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga as both vacationed on Koh Pha-ngan in August last year. During the trial, Sancho claimed that Arrieta had tried to sexually assault him, resulting in a scuffle in which Sancho alleged Arrieta hit his head on a bathtub, causing his death. He pled not guilty to premeditated murder but admitted dismembering Arrieta's body and discarding parts on land and in the water.

The gruesome nature of the crime, combined with Sancho's high-profile family connections, led to extensive media coverage in Spain. Sancho's parents, both actors, were present at the court session. Adding to the case's notoriety, HBO produced a Spanish-language documentary detailing the events. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)