Son of Spanish actor goes on trial over Thai island murder

AFP | | Bangkok                                            

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The murder trial of a famous Spanish actor’s son opened yesterday on a popular Thai tourist island, where he will face charges of killing another foreigner.

Chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, pleaded not guilty at a hearing in November to the murder of 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the nearby Koh Pha Ngan island.

The trial opened yesterday on the honeymoon isle of Koh Samui, with scores of Spanish reporters flying in -- despite being barred from the tiny courtroom. Sancho’s father, well-known Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, arrived at court shortly after 8:30 am (0130 GMT).

“He is fine,” he said, declining to answer any further questions.

Lawyer Juan Gonzalo Ospina Serrano, representing Arrieta’s family, said outside court ahead of the trial they hoped that “Thai law will be forceful, that the truth can be told”.

“We hope that the family can close this painful stage of their life and that they can begin their mourning,” he said.

Sancho has been in pre-trial detention in Thailand since August, after police said he had admitted to the murder.

Under Thai law, premeditated murder convictions carry the death penalty. However, Arrieta’s family previously said they would not seek the death penalty.

Sancho has admitted to hiding Arrieta’s body -- which carries up to a year in jail -- but he denies the second charge of destroying the Colombian’s passport.

Sancho’s lawyer Apichart Srinual confirmed that his client would appear in court, but declined to answer reporters’ questions.

The Thai public prosecutor who filed the case against Sancho also declined to speak to the media at the court.