The trial begins in Thailand against the Spanish chef accused of dismembering a Colombian doctor: what penalty could he receive?

Hear

KOH SAMUI, Thailand.- A tourist court Thai island of Koh Samui The trial against the Spaniard began this Tuesday Daniel Sanchoaccused of premeditated murder and dismemberment to the Colombian doctor Edwin Arrieta, whose family requested a “strong” sentence.

The accused, 29 years old and son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sanchoit was declared not guilty in a court hearing in November of this bloody case that occurred in early August on the neighboring island of Koh Pha Ngan, known for its full moon parties.

In the midst of scorching heat, the beginning of the process was met with widespread media expectation, although in the end reporters were not able to enter the tiny courtroom. The father of the accused, known in Spain for series such as Afterclass either The ministry of time.

Surrounded by a swarm of reporters upon arriving at the court early in the morning, Rodolfo Sancho simply said that your son “is fine” as he made his way through the press.

The prosecution’s lawyer, Juan Gonzalo Ospina, said in front of the court that Arrieta’s relatives “They hope that Thai law is forceful, that the truth can be told”.

When leaving for a break, Ospina told journalists that they saw Daniel Sancho very calm. “In my experience as a criminal lawyer I have not been able to find that he shows regret“, he pointed.

After recalling that the accused only acknowledged his responsibility in hiding the body, the lawyer indicated that “Daniel does not recognize that he has committed any type of murder, neither with premeditation nor without premeditation.”.

He commented that it was “shocking” to see the defendant in shackles. “It is a chilling image to see him tied hand and foot with handcuffs”said.

The trial will last until mid-Maywith dozens of witnesses scheduled to testify.

Sancho meets in provisional detention in Thailand since Augustwhen the police said that the young chef had admitted to the murder of the 44-year-old Colombian surgeon.

Under Thai law, a premeditated murder can carry a death sentence. However, the Colombian doctor’s family has said beforehand that does not want capital punishment.

“We want a life sentence for him. “Let them leave him in Thailand, so that he has time, all the time that God gives him in life to think about what he did, that not only did he dismember my brother, he dismembered a family.”said the Colombian doctor’s sister, Darling Arrieta, in a documentary on the HBO platform about this case, which premiered in Spain coinciding with the start of the trial.

In the same documentary, Rodolfo Sancho He defends his son, stating that Arrieta had “threatened” him, and that from then on “there was a fight and in that fight there was an accident.”.

According to the Spanish press, Sancho’s defense will allege that The murder was not premeditated, but acted in self-defense.

The Spanish chef faces two other charges: hide Arrieta’s body, after having dismembered it as he confessed to the police, and destroy the Colombian’s passport, something he denies.

The defense lawyer, Apichart Srinual, confirmed that Sancho will be present at the hearing, but avoided answering questions from the press.