In Thailand, a new hearing has been scheduled for Monday, December 12, in the Daniel Sancho case, with the defense set to present its evidence following information obtained by EFE from multiple sources.
During today’s session, which ran about three hours and took place behind closed doors, the defense did not submit its evidence list as planned. The Samui provincial court judge in the southern region of Thailand granted a final extension to December 12, requiring both sides to present their evidence at that time.
The dates for the formal hearing against the Spaniard remain uncertain until the proceedings resume. New developments are anticipated as the case advances.
Earlier in the day, the judge again reviewed the three charges facing Sancho: intentional murder, destruction of another person’s documents, and the dismantling or concealment of parts of the victim’s body. Sancho stipulated a guilty plea only on the third charge, maintaining innocence on the first two.
At today’s hearing, the defendants’ parents attended the session, including actor Rodolfo Sancho and the family’s investment analyst, along with Silvia Bronchalo and representatives from the Spanish Embassy in Thailand.
The 27-year-old Spaniard, who was taken into custody on August 5 after reportedly confessing to police, did not admit to premeditated murder during his August 25 appearance in the same court. The crime is punishable by the Thai death penalty, a stark reminder of the gravity of the charges.
Today also marked a change in legal representation. Sancho appeared with a new attorney, Aprichat Srinuel, after a prior hearing on November 13. The switch came after the defendant expressed dissatisfaction with the former counsel’s conduct and performance, and he rejected the prior attorney’s services on an grounds of dissatisfaction.
One of the key points behind the defense’s request for more time was the recent appointment of the new lawyer and the need to build a robust evidentiary record. The defense stresses that ample time is required to organize and review materials, including numerous test documents and other pieces of evidence that must be assessed before the December 12 date.
Sancho faces serious accusations for the alleged act on Phangan Island, near Samui, where the two reportedly last met on August 2. The island’s proximity to the renowned resort area has drawn international attention as investigators work to reconstruct the sequence of events surrounding the alleged murder and subsequent actions taken with the victim’s remains.
In the statements presented to the court on November 13, Sancho described the death as the result of an accident that occurred during a confrontation. He also acknowledged dismembering and concealing the victim’s body parts, a sequence that continues to be central to the prosecution’s case and the defense’s ongoing arguments regarding intent and liability.