BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand began a trial Tuesday of the son of Spanish actors accused of killing and dismembering a Colombian surgeon on a popular tourist island.
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was indicted by prosecutors in October over the death of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, whose remains were found stuffed in plastic bags at a landfill on Koh Pha Ngan, an island famous for its rave-style “full moon parties.”
Lawyer Juan Gonzalo Ospina Serrano, who represents Arrieta’s family, told reporters at the Koh Samui Provincial Court before the trial that the family trusts Thai prosecutors to deliver justice.
“They are grateful and hope that Thai law is forceful and that the truth can be told,” he said.
The charges against Sancho include premeditated murder, concealment of a body and destruction of other people’s documents, which is related to the alleged damaging of the Arrieta’s passport. Sancho pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder and destruction of documents but pleaded guilty to hiding the victim’s body.
The charge of premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty. The maximum sentence for damaging other’s documents carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a 100,000 baht ($2,750) fine. The concealment or damaging of a body carries a year in prison and a 20,000 baht ($550) fine.
The trial is opening with statements from witnesses brought in by the plaintiff, said Apichart Srinual, a Thai lawyer who represents Sancho.
When asked whether he is confident about his defense case, Aprichart said “it depends on the evidence,” adding that “there are a lot of witnesses. It depends on what they will say.”
Sancho was driven to the court in a closed car and was not visible to reporters waiting outside. Sancho’s father, Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, also came to the court but declined to comment.
Sancho, a chef, was arrested in August after the remains of Arrieta, 44, were discovered at the landfill.
Police said Sancho came in to report a missing person and was subsequently detained. He later reportedly confessed to killing and dismembering Arrieta and dumping the body parts in the landfill and the sea, though he denied that his action was premeditated, according to police.
Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, right, father of Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, talks to reporters arrives at Koh Samui provincial court in southern Thailand, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Thailand's Koh Samui Provincial began a trial on Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the son of the Spanish actor accused of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon on a popular tourist island. (AP Photo/Suthipong Charoenjai)
FILE - A Thai police officer escorts Spanish Daniel Sancho Bronchalo on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon from Koh Phagnan island to Koh Samui Island court, southern Thailand, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Thailand's Koh Samui Provincial court Tuesday, April 9, 2024, began a trial on the son of a Spanish actor accused of murdering and dismembering the surgeon on the popular tourist island. (AP Photo/Somkeat Ruksaman, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Schwarber had a two-run single in the second inning, Alec Bohm extended his hitting streak to 15 games and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Wednesday.
Philadelphia won the getaway game despite striking out 18 times, the 11th time since 1906 the team has whiffed at least that many times in a game.
Nick Castellanos struck out four times for the fifth time in his career.
“I haven't seen that for awhile and don't know what to attribute that to. I guess guys were making perfect pitches on us,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Today wasn't our best day offensively but we grinded through it. You have to win those types of games when you're not at your best.”
Ehire Adrianza hit his first home run in nearly three years for the Angels, who went 3-6 on their homestand and have not won any of their five home series this season.
Los Angeles went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. It had runners on first and third with one out in the ninth, but Gregory Soto struck out Jo Adell and Taylor Ward hit a fly ball to the warning track in left field where Schwarber caught it for the final out to secure Soto's second save.
Adell also struck out four times.
“We just have to learn how to touch the ball and put it in play and keep things working that way until our offense starts to click,” manager Ron Washington said.
Zack Wheeler (3-3) won his third straight start after he allowed one run on five hits and struck out six in five innings as the Phillies won seven of 10 games on their road trip.
Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (1-5) struck out 10, the fourth time in his career he has posted double digits in strikeouts. The left-hander gave up two runs on four hits, and retired the last eight hitters he faced, including five via strikeout.
“Minus that second inning I feel like I had my best stuff the whole year,” Sandoval said. “I feel like a lot of long at-bats in the second inning with some of those guys. I couldn't seal the deal and they made me pay for it.”
All of the runs scored in the second inning.
The Phillies had the bases loaded with two outs when Schwarber hit a sharp grounder up the middle — just beyond the glove of diving Angels shortstop Zach Neto — to drive in two runs.
“When I hit it, I didn't see the shortstop until it got by Sandoval. It kind of stayed inside and was true up the middle and almost hit the bag,” Schwarber said.
The Angels responded on Adrianza's solo shot to right-center. It was his first homer since Oct. 1, 2021, when he was with the Atlanta Braves.
Bohm's base hit in the third inning extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games. He is hitting .483 during the run (29 for 60), including 21 for 42 with 12 RBIs during the road trip.
Luis Rengifo kept it a one-run game in the seventh when he threw out Whit Merrifield at home. The Angels second baseman had a sharp grounder by Schwarber deflect off his glove, but he recovered in time by picking up the loose ball and throwing home, where Matt Thaiss applied the tag to Merrifield.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: INF Miguel Sanó was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 28, due to left knee inflammation.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (4-1, 3.20 ERA) takes the mound on Friday against San Francisco to open a six-game homestand.
Angels: Hit the road for six games. RHP José Soriano (0-4, 4.76 ERA) looks for his first win on Friday in Cleveland.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, right, tags out Philadelphia Phillies' Whit Merrifield at home plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Gregory Soto reacts after Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward flies out to left field during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Gregory Soto throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Gregory Soto, left, greets right fielder Nick Castellanos after the Phillies defeat the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington (37) congratulates Ehire Adrianza (13) for hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Home plate umpire Chad Whitson, left, talks to Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper after Harper strikes out looking during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, right, tags out Philadelphia Phillies' Whit Merrifield at home plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto greets teammates after scoring with Whit Merrifield on a two-RBI single by Kyle Schwarber against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, right, hits a two-RBI single next to Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss and home plate umpire Chad Whitson (62) during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
