Teenager fatally stabbed woman hours after booking her Airbnb, court hears

A teenager accused of murdering a woman stabbed her to death within hours of renting a room from her, a court heard.

Enzo Bettamio, 18, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey on Tuesday after being extradited from the United Arab Emirates last week.

He is charged with the murder of 27-year-old Kamonnan Thiamphanit, also known as Angela.

Ms Thiamphanit was found dead at her home in Stanhope Place, near Hyde Park in London, on the morning of 8 April 2024 after police forced entry to the property. She had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Prosecutor Nadeem Holland said on Tuesday that Bettamio, then aged 16, killed Ms Thiamphanit during a period of just 24 hours in the UK in 2024.

The defendant had arrived in the country on a flight from Los Angeles on 5 April 2024. He is then alleged to have used Airbnb to book a room for a month at Ms Thiamphanit's property.

The court heard that Ms Thiamphanit spent that evening playing board games with friends, before leaving in the early hours of 6 April, saying there was an emergency at the Stanhope Place address.

Mr Holland said an Uber dropped her off there at 4.24am, and that it was the last time she was physically seen alive.

Around 13 hours later, the defendant allegedly hailed a black cab on nearby Bayswater Road to take him to an 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 8 April.

"She had sustained multiple stab wounds all over her body," Mr Holland told the court.

"A large silver knife was protruding from the side of her neck."

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Bettamio, a dual Brazilian and Italian national, and international kart racer, was extradited back to the UK on 24 April this year.

Upon arrival, he was arrested and taken to Charing Cross Police Station, where he was charged with murder.

Judge Simon Mayo KC set a plea hearing for 14 July and a provisional trial from 1 February next year

Bettamio was remanded into custody.

(c) Sky News 2026: Teenager fatally stabbed woman hours after booking her Airbnb, court hears