A woman who was discovered stabbed to death in her £4 million mansion had a large silver knife protruding from the side of her neck, a court has been told.
Enzo Bettamio, 18, an international kart racer, has been charged with the murder of Kamonnan Thiamphanit after being extradited from the United Arab Emirates last week. The dual Brazilian and Italian national, then aged 16, arrived in the UK from Los Angeles on April 5, 2024, and went to stay at Ms Thiamphanit's home, which she had advertised on Airbnb, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday.
Within 24 hours, Ms Thiamphanit, 27, was found dead with multiple stab wounds at her home near Hyde Park on April 8, 2024. Prosecutor Nadeem Holland told the court that Ms Thiamphanit sustained multiple stab wounds all over her body and that a large silver knife was protruding from the side of her neck when she was discovered.
Bettamio had allegedly used the Airbnb application to book a room for a month at the victim's property in Stanhope Place near Marble Arch in central London. On the day of his arrival, Ms Thiamphanit, also known as Angela, spent the evening playing board games with friends before leaving in the early hours of April 6, citing an emergency at the Stanhope Place address, the court heard.
An Uber minicab dropped her off at 4:24 am, which was the last time she was physically seen alive, Mr Holland said. Around 13 hours later, the defendant allegedly flagged down a black cab on nearby Bayswater Road to take him to the airport, where he bought a ticket to Dubai. Ms Thiamphanit's friends became concerned and alerted police, who found her body inside her home on April 8.
A post-mortem examination found she had died from multiple sharp force injuries. On April 24 this year, the defendant was extradited back to the UK from the UAE. On arrival, he was arrested and taken to Charing Cross police station, where he was charged with murder.
Ms Thiamphanit had dual Chinese-Hong Kong and Thai nationality and moved to the UK to study around 10 years ago. Bettamio, of no fixed address, appeared by video-link from Wandsworth Jail and spoke only to confirm his identity during the court hearing before Judge Simon Mayo KC.
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, said: 'I would like to express my sincere thanks to Angela’s family and friends for their patience and unwavering support to the investigation, throughout what has been an incredibly difficult and distressing time for them.'
The judge set a plea hearing for July 14 and a provisional trial from February 1 next year. The defendant was remanded in custody.
