The killer who stabbed a young Thai woman to death in a £4million luxury mansion near Hyde Park is believed to have fled abroad, an inquest heard today.
Kamonnan Thiamphanit – a tenant at the former Ethiopian embassy – was found dead last week shortly after neighbours heard ear piercing screams.
Police been working on the theory that 27-year-old – known as Angela – knew her killer and let them into the apartment in Bayswater, west London.
At an inquest into her death today, it was revealed police have a name for the prime suspect and believe he has left the country.
DCI Alison Foxwell told the hearing, held remotely by Westminster Coroner’s Court: ‘Angela which is what she was known as while here in the UK had been renting out the property as an Airbnb.
‘We believe that the person who attacked her was known to her, this isn’t a stranger attack but at some point after the 6 April at 6.15am she was attacked in the address and sustained a number of stab injuries.
Kamonnan Thiamphanit, who was found stabbed to death at a £4million home near Hyde Park
Police officers at the scene after forcing entry to the house near Hyde Park at around 8.30am on April 8
A forensic scene of crime officer at the property in Stanhope Place
‘We are currently seeking the perpetrator but cannot give much more information about that at this stage, I’m afraid.’
When asked by the corner Fiona Wilcox, for further details, DCI Foxwell said: ‘We have a named individual. I think it unlikely that the person will be arrested in the next two weeks.
‘We are asking the CPS whether we have sufficient evidence to extradite somebody from outside the UK.’
Ms Thiamphanit was described as working in property, though no other details were given.
The inquest also heard how she was identified by fingerprints through immigration records and her mother in Thailand had been informed of her death.
An inquest revealed she had died from multiple stab injuries.
The five story building, just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park, has a video camera entry and police are believed to have recovered that and used it to identify their prime suspect.
No details of who that is have been released but the Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the IOPC watchdog over how it responded to an initial report of concern by the woman’s friend 13 hours before she as found dad.
This map shows the street where Ms Thiamphanit was staying. It is located just off Bayswater Road, which is opposite Hyde Park in London
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
Scotland Yard said it had been made aware of concern for the woman’s welfare the night before she was found on April 7 but now admit there were two phone calls made by a worried friend on the Sunday night, within two and half hours.
However she was not found until 8.30am on April 8 after police were seen forcing open the door to the building and then sealing it off.
Ms Wilcox passed on her condolences to Ms Thiamphanit’s family in Thailand and then released the body.
She said: ‘It is very unlikely that I am going to get a request from a defendant for a second post mortem within 28 days of death, so I will release the body.’
A police officer tends to the cordon at Stanhope Place in London – yards away from Hyde Park