In the case against Spaniard Daniel Sancho, the legal proceedings regarding the murder of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrie Arrie t a will unfold in Samui, a province on the island of Ko Samui in southern Thailand. The court scheduled a lengthy preparatory phase that will stretch from early April into May next year, with an estimated tally of at least 57 witnesses across all parties involved.
During today’s session conducted in the Samui court, the judge announced the hearing dates, carefully considering the substantial number of witnesses. The proceedings will extend over 15 business days, from Tuesday through Friday, as informed to EFE by a source close to the case. The hearing forms part of the trial’s preliminary stage, beginning roughly at 9:30 local time (GMT+7) and lasting more than three hours. The defendant, along with his mother, Silvia Bronchalo, an investment analyst, attended the proceedings in person.
The prosecution plans to call 28 witnesses at this stage. Counsel for Arrie Arrie t a’s family submitted testimony from two individuals, including the victim’s parents, while the defense has indicated it will present at least 27 witnesses. There remains a possibility for additional witnesses to be called, reflecting the ongoing complexity of the case ahead of the trial on Samui island, where Sancho remains in custody since the earlier period of custody on Phangan island.
The 29-year-old Spaniard was apprehended on the neighboring island of Phangan on August 5 after confessing to the Thai authorities. The country has not ruled out the possibility of the death penalty for the premeditated murder charge that the prosecution has brought against him.
On the first day of the hearing, the defense, the prosecution, and the lawyers representing the victim’s family will be present to observe. The proceedings will begin with a five-minute opening statement, followed by witness testimony, and will proceed in person rather than via remote attendance.
Prosecution witnesses are expected to testify first, including those listed by Sancho’s attorney, public defender Aprichat Srinuel. The process is anticipated to continue as the parties move toward further submissions and examination on subsequent days.
When the sessions conclude on May 3, the parties will have the opportunity to deliver final defenses. A new date will then be set for the formal verdict reading, as determined by the judge at the end of this phase of the proceedings.
Sancho has pleaded not guilty to two of the three charges brought by the prosecution, including premeditated murder and the alleged destruction of others’ documents related to the case. He also acknowledged a third allegation concerning the destruction of parts of the victim’s body, with evidence found across various locations on Phangan island. The relationship between Sancho and Arrie Arrie t a dates back to last year, and the two reportedly met on Phangan on August 2, the day the alleged crime occurred.