Artur Segarra, the Catalan businessman whose notorious murder case seized international headlines, continues to be a subject of intrigue years after his conviction.
Early Life and Background
Artur Segarra was born in the Catalan city of Terrassa, Spain, in 1980. This puts his current age at 43, as of 2023. Not much is known about Segarra’s early life, family life or upbringing; reports indicate he hails from a working-class background in Terrassa. Due to his crimes being so high-profile, his family have chosen not to enter public view despite its exposure – details on them remain scarce.
Segarra’s Ethnicity
Segarra is ethnically Catalan, born and raised in the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia, known for its distinct culture and language. His Catalan heritage became a point of discussion in both Spanish and Thai media outlets during his trial. Although he later moved to Thailand, he continued to identify with his Catalan roots.
The Crime: Kidnapping and Murder
Segarra’s life took a gruesome turn when he kidnapped fellow Catalan, David Bernat, in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2016. Bernat was held captive for a week in Segarra’s Bangkok apartment before he was murdered. After the act, Segarra dismembered Bernat’s body and discarded it in a river.
Arrest and Extradition
Segarra was quickly identified as a suspect and after an intensive manhunt led to his capture in Cambodia in February 2016 he was extradited back to Thailand for prosecution for his crimes.
Trial and Conviction
In the Thai courts, Segarra was charged with premeditated murder and kidnapping. He was found guilty and, in November 2019, was sentenced to death for his heinous acts. Despite an appeal, his death sentence was upheld.
Commutation of Sentence
Segarra received a royal pardon that commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment on July 20, 2022, ending any chance for execution but remaining behind bars to serve out his term of life imprisonment for his sinister crimes.
Current Status
Today, Artur Segarra continues to serve his life sentence in a Thai prison. His case remains a chilling reminder of a horrifying crime, and he remains a figure of intrigue for those seeking to understand the circumstances that led to such a monstrous act.
