Thai court upholds life sentence for Daniel Sancho over 2023 murder of Edwin Arrieta

Appeal verdict in Samui

The Samui Provincial Court in southern Thailand confirmed on 25 September 2026 that it has dismissed appeals lodged by both the defense and the victim's legal representatives, maintaining the life sentence imposed on Daniel Sancho. The hearing took place behind closed doors at 10:00 local time, with Sancho attending via videolink from Surat Thani prison. Thai defense lawyers Aphichat Srinuel and Alice Keartjareanlap attended the hearing alongside Metapon Suwancharen and Nattha Jongratwanin, who represented the family of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta.

The ruling leaves the initial August 2024 verdict intact, confirming Sancho's conviction for premeditated murder, dismemberment, and the theft of Arrieta's passport on the island of Ko Phangan on 2 August 2023. Sancho's legal representative confirmed the outcome shortly after the hearing concluded.

“The appeals from both our side and the opposing side have been dismissed.”

Defense arguments and Supreme Court options

The defense team, led by Spanish attorney Marcos García Montes, submitted its appeal in April 2025 requesting a sentence reduction or a retrial. They argued that Arrieta died accidentally during a physical altercation after Sancho defended himself against an attempted sexual assault. Thai prosecutors maintained that Sancho systematically planned the killing. The original court had commuted a potential death sentence to life imprisonment because Sancho cooperated with an initial confession during police questioning.

Sancho's legal team stated that they will analyze the full translated text of the resolution before deciding on subsequent legal steps. The defense retains the right to appeal the conviction before the Supreme Court of Thailand. If the Supreme Court rejects that appeal, Sancho could seek a royal pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X, to commute or reduce his life sentence.

Outstanding civil compensation

The legal team representing Arrieta's family, led by Juan Gonzalo Ospina and Beatriz Uriarte, had filed their own appeal seeking the death penalty and an increase in civil damages beyond the 4 million baht (approximately 106,000 to 119,000 euros) awarded in the initial judgment. Arrieta was a plastic surgeon in Montería who provided primary financial support for his elderly parents and charitable projects.

The victim's family reported that they have not received any portion of the court-mandated restitution. Beatriz Uriarte confirmed that the family remains unpaid while legal procedures continue in Thailand.

“They have not even paid 50 cents yet.”

Conditions at Surat Thani prison

Sancho remains incarcerated in Surat Thani central prison, a high-security facility opened in 2023 on the southern Thai mainland. The facility houses over 5,000 inmates serving sentences ranging from 15 years to the death penalty, exceeding its planned operational capacity. The prison accommodates both Thai nationals and foreign prisoners with long-term sentences in communal block cells. The court is scheduled to issue a public ruling on 7 October 2026 addressing the outstanding requests concerning compensation and legal petitions.