A woman who was found stabbed to death at a £4million home near Hyde Park has been pictured for the first time.
The body of Kamonnan Thiamphanit was discovered by officers after they forced entry to a property in Stanhope Place, Bayswater, at approximately 8.30am on Monday, April 8.
Officers were contacted on Sunday by friends of the 27-year-old who were concerned about her welfare but only attended the scene more than 13 hours later.
Ms Thiamphanit, known to her friends as Angela, lived at the address where neighbours told they heard two ‘high-pitched screams’ hours before her body was found with stab injuries.
Police have launched a murder investigation following the tragic incident, vowing to ‘ensure whoever is responsible is held to account’.
Kamonnan Thiamphanit, who was found stabbed to death at a £4million home near Hyde Park
Forensics at the scene where Ms Thiamphanit was found with stab wounds in her home in Stanhope Place, Bayswater
Police officers at the scene after forcing entry to the house near Hyde Park at around 8.30am on Monday morning
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Clifton, who leads the investigation, said: ‘My team continues to work tirelessly to piece together the events that led to Kamonnan’s murder.
‘I would like to thank local residents for their patience while we have gone about our work at the scene.
‘I would appeal to anyone who has information that could assist us, no matter how insignificant you think that may be, to come forward and speak to us.
‘Kamonnan’s family and friends have been devastated by this murder and we must ensure whoever is responsible is held to account.’
There has been no arrest and inquiries continue.
The Met has referred itself to the independent policing watchdog over the incident after it took hours for officers to respond to concerns for Ms Thiamphanit’s welfare.
It has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to the ‘initial contact’ from the friend, who first phoned police more than 13 hours before the woman’s was discovered.
Met chiefs previously said the force had been made aware of concerns for Ms Thiamphanit’s welfare the night before.
But they later admitted there were two phone calls made by a concerned friend on Sunday within two and a half hours.
The front door of the house in Stanhope Place. Eyewitnesses say police forced the door open to gain access to the property after receiving concerned calls from friends of the woman
Forensic officers throw items into a bag outside the house in London’s plush Bayswater district, within the borough of Westminster
A police officer tends to the cordon at Stanhope Place in London – yards away from the capital’s landmark Hyde Park
In a statement, the Met said it had first been called by the woman’s friend at 7.05pm on April 7, grading the call as a ‘medium risk missing person’.
It then received a further call two and a half hours later at 9.34pm. But it was not until 8.30am on April 8 that police were seen forcing the door at the property on the edge of Hyde Park and sealing off the scene.
The force said: ‘Police received two calls from the same person on Sunday, 7 April raising concerns for the welfare of the woman – one at 19:05hrs and one at 21:34hrs.
‘The woman was initially graded as a medium risk missing person prior to the discovery of her body.
‘The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and a mandatory referral will be made to the IOPC in relation to the initial contact from the woman’s friend.’
The IOPC said: ‘We can confirm that we have received a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) after a woman was found dead by officers at a property in Stanhope Place, W2 on the morning of 8 April 2024.
‘The referral relates to previous contact after two calls were made to police on Sunday evening (7 April) by a friend of the woman to report her missing.
‘We will assess the referral and decide what further action may be required from us.’
News of the referral was first reported by the Standard.
The Met Police has referred itself to the watchdog regarding its response to an initial call from a friend of the woman concerned for her welfare (pictured: a police van at the scene)
Police at the scene on Stanhope Place in London’s plush Bayswater area near Hyde Park after a woman was found with fatal knife wounds on Monday
Locals in Stanhope Place previously told how they heard ‘two high-pitched screams’ on Sunday night.
A neighbouring resident of the home where the woman was found said she heard ‘a series of screams’ coming from somewhere in the street, followed by ‘silence’.
The neighbour, who has lived on the street for over half a century, said: ‘I did hear very, very high-pitched screams on Sunday evening coming from that direction.
‘A series of screams. I recall two – I’m very sensitive to sound. They were very unusual. There was no other sound other than the screams, then silence after.
‘I was in my room and I thought, “That’s very strange”. Then I recall there was a sound from the other side of my house.
‘What could I do? If it had continued I would have stuck my head out.
‘Apparently they’ve turned the rooms into Airbnbs. My neighbour was leaving her flat yesterday (Monday) morning and saw the police beating the door down.
‘We saw two forensics trucks and we knew it was serious… We knew it was murder. I’ve always been so paranoid living here, but nothing like this has ever happened before.
‘Things have gotten worse in London recently. It’s becoming dangerous.’
A builder working opposite also claimed he had been told it was an Airbnb – although there was no listing on the short let website for a property in Stanhope Place.
It is thought the victim may have known her attacker as the five-storey house has a video entry system at the front door – and there was no sign of forced entry before police entered on Monday morning.
After attending at the house on Monday, police sealed off the scene, with forensic officers seen removing items from the house throughout Tuesday morning.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and while police chiefs say they are ‘keeping an open mind’ as to the motive, they have vowed to work ’24/7 to establish what happened… and to identify and arrest whoever may be responsible’.
The five bedroom terraced home – which dates from the 1820s and is Grade II-listed as being of historic interest – is set over three floors.
A hotel owner in the street said the property was rented but was unaware of the identity of the occupier.
DCI Clifton, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said on Tuesday: ‘I understand this news will be concerning, and that local women especially may be worried.
‘Our inquiries are in the very early stages and we are keeping an open mind as to the motive, however I can assure people that my team are working 24/7 to establish what happened to the woman, and to identify and arrest whoever may be responsible for this attack.’
Chief superintendent Louise Puddefoot, lead for policing in Westminster, added: ‘Our thoughts are with the woman and her family. My officers will do everything we can to support the investigation and they will be stationed in the area to speak to anyone who has any information or concerns they want to share with us.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101 or via the @MetCC account on X, formerly Twitter, quoting the reference CAD 6784/7 Apr.
Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.