Crime & Justice

Slit throat killed Colombian murder victim on Thai island: police

Bangkok, Aug 21 (EFE).- Autopsy results on a Colombian murder victim show he died from a fatal wound to the throat following a fight with his alleged killer on the Thai island of Phangan, police said Monday in an interview with EFE.

Thailand’s Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn said forensic evidence showed Edwin Arrieta died this way at the hands of Spanish defendant Daniel Sancho, accused of killing and dismembering the Colombian surgeon earlier this month.

“We already have the definitive results of the autopsy. First they fought, according to the evidence at the scene (of the crime). Daniel punched him, then the doctor (Arrieta) fell and hit his head against the sink,” Surachate said. “He did not die at that moment, but when (the suspect) cut his throat, according to forensics.”

Sancho has been in pre-trial detention in the Koh Samui prison, in southern Thailand, since Aug. 7, after confessing to the murder of Arrieta.

Surachate said police have “sufficient evidence” to convict Sancho and that the investigation’s report could be sent to the prosecutor’s office this week before the trial begins in three to six months.

“It can be said that this case is already closed. (…) The case has been resolved quickly. Now the police are preparing the final report to send it to the Prosecutor’s Office before Friday,” said the policeman, who supervises the investigation.

Police have 83 days for the investigation from when Sancho entered pre-trial detention.

Surachate made a similar announcement Tuesday during a press conference at the Koh Phangan police station, the tourist island neighboring Koh Samui where the incident occurred on Aug. 2.

Surachate at the time said the investigation had ended, although autopsy results were not available at the time. He said some of the victim’s remains and belongings were yet to be found, including his mobile phone.

Sancho, 29, is accused of premeditated murder after he confessed to having killed and dismembered the 44-year-old Colombian surgeon.

Sancho and Arrieta, who allegedly met last year through Instagram, had met on Koh Phangan the day the surgeon was murdered and dismembered. His remains have been found in various locations on the island. EFE

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