Teenager denies stabbing Airbnb host to death

A teenager who fled to Dubai after allegedly stabbing his Airbnb host to death and leaving the knife embedded in her neck denied murder today (FRI).

Kamonnan Thiamphaint, 27, was found dead with multiple stab wounds at her home near Hyde Park on 8 April, 2024.

Enzo Bettamio, 18, had arrived in the UK from Los Angeles and went to stay at Ms Thiamphaint’s home which she advertised on Airbnb, a court heard.

He flew from London to Dubai on 6 April, two days before Ms Thiamphaint was reported missing and her body was found.

Bettamio, a dual Italian and Brazilian national, was extradited back from the United Arab Emirates to the UK last week.

Ms Thiamphaint, also known as Angela, had dual Chinese-Hong Kong and Thai nationality and moved to the UK to study around 10 years ago.

Wearing a black tracksuit with a sticking plaster under his left eye Bettamio appeared at the Old Bailey today (fri) and denied murder.

Judge Simon Mayo, KC, remanded Bettamio in custody ahead of his trial on 1 February next year.

Prosecutor Nadeem Holland earlier said: ‘Ms Thiamphaint was living in an address in Stanhope Place which she would let out on the application Airbnb.

‘On 5 April the defendant arrived in the UK at Gatwick Airport on a flight from Los Angeles

‘He messaged Ms Thiamphaint via Airbnb with a view to renting her property for a month.

‘The booking was confirmed and he made his way to the address where he met her shortly after 4.10pm in the afternoon.

‘After 8pm Ms Thiamphaint left her address to meet some friends. She spent the evening with them playing board games.

‘Ms Thiamphaint left back for her address at 4am on the understanding there was some sort of emergency.

‘An Uber dropped her off at 4.24am. This was the last time she was physically seen alive.’

At 5.35pm the next day Bettamio took an Uber to Heathrow where he took a flight to Dubai, the prosecutor said.

He said: ’Two days later Ms Thiamphiant was reported missing by friends. Police entered the property on 8 April at 8.30am and found her body.

‘She had sustained multiple stab wounds all over her body a large silver knife was protruding from the left side of her neck.’

A postmortem found multiple sharp force injuries and defensive injuries to the arms and legs.
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