SAMUI ISLAND, Thailand, Aug 29 (Reuters) – A Thai court on Thursday jailed for life the son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho for the high profile murder and dismembering of a Colombian man last year on the popular tourist island of Koh Phangan.

A criminal court on the neighbouring island of Samui found Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 30, guilty of the premeditated murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, whose body was cut up and concealed by the accused, a court statement said.Daniel Sancho is the son of Rodolfo Sancho, who starred in “El Ministerio del Tiempo” (The Ministry of Time) and actress Silvia Bronchalo. He pleaded guilty to concealing the victim’s body, but denied premeditated murder, the court said.

Throughout the trial, Sancho had maintained the August 2023 killing of Arteaga, a plastic surgeon, was an act of self-defense, according to Thai media reports. His lawyer declined to comment when contacted by Reuters on Thursday.

Sancho was a chef on holiday in Thailand at the time of the incident, local media said.

He dismembered the victim’s body and placed parts of it in plastic bags that he distributed around the island.

The court initially sentenced him to death but reduced that to life imprisonment due to the account he gave of the events during cross examination. He was ordered to pay the victim’s family 4.42 million baht ($130,230) in compensation.Thailand has sentenced the son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho to life imprisonment for his involvement in a gruesome murder case that has shocked both Thailand and Spain. The convicted, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, was found guilty of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon in a case that drew widespread media attention due to its horrific nature and the high profile of the individuals involved.

The murder occurred in August 2023, when Sancho Bronchalo was arrested in Thailand after the body parts of the victim, Edwin Arrieta, were discovered scattered across various locations, including a popular tourist island. The investigation revealed that Sancho Bronchalo had planned the murder, lured Arrieta to a location, and then killed him before attempting to dispose of the body in a manner aimed at evading detection.

During the trial, Sancho Bronchalo confessed to the crime, stating that he had acted out of desperation and fear. However, his confession and cooperation with authorities did not spare him from receiving the severe punishment of life imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of the crime under Thai law.

The case has not only captivated public attention due to the brutal details but also because of the involvement of Daniel’s father, Rodolfo Sancho, a well-known actor in Spain. Rodolfo Sancho has been in the spotlight, facing the difficult situation of his son’s actions and the legal consequences that have followed.

The sentencing brings a tragic chapter to a close, but the impact of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings continue to resonate in both Thailand and Spain, highlighting the severe penalties for such crimes in Thailand and the far-reaching consequences of actions that cross international borders.