Woman fatally stabbed in Norwich house is aunt of girls, 7 and 12, also killed

22 January 2024 , 14:53

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A woman who was found dead with stab wounds along with two children and a man was on a trip from Thailand to visit her sister's family, and there were "no warning signs" beforehand, a friend says.

Kanticha Noon, 36, had arrived in the UK on December 27 and was staying at the family home of her sibling, her two daughters - seven-year-old Downreuang and Jasmin, 12 - and her sibling's husband Bartlomiej Jakub Kuczynski, 46.

Detectives are investigating after the four bodies were found at a property in Costessey, near Norwich, Norfolk, on Friday (January 19).

Kanticha's best friend Naty Wathanakul told the Mirror she was due to fly home some point next month. The girls' mum was at work as a caretaker when the deaths were discovered, she said.

Describing her friend, she said: "She was very nice and caring to all friends of her, a really big supportive person, she helped everyone. We have been shocked and depressed since we knew about her death.

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Kanticha Noon, 36, had arrived in the UK on December 27 (Facebook)

"I wasn't expecting that my friend wouldn't be able to come back alive. She was just a petite woman, i cant believe this happened to her. It was too cruel to handle, I was crying."

Naty said Kanticha had previously visited the UK last June and had originally been hesitant about coming over this month for "no reason". She said: "She didn't want to go to the UK this time for no reason because she went there once or twice a year normally."

She went on to say: "She loved her nieces, I always saw their pictures together. She is a single woman, no boyfriend, no husband, that's why she spent most of her time with those lovely girls." Kanticha and her sister ran UK-based children's clothing store Malishop together.

Bartłomiej Kuczynski, his wife and their two daughters (East Anglia News Service)

Asked about the last time she spoke to her friend, Naty said: "We discussed Nando’s chicken and beef cooking method. There were no signs at all before she would be killed." She said this was just a few days before her death. She added that her boyfriend is a chef and knowing how much Kanticha loved to cook she said: "I told her to get my boyfriend to teach her to do it perfectly." Noiy Narkvatchara said in a tribute on social media: "My deepest condolences."

Police said the 36-year-old woman died as a result of stab wounds to the neck and the 45-year-old man died as a result of a stab wound to the neck. Post-mortem examinations for the two girls will be carried out on Wednesday (January 24).

On Saturday night, following extensive enquiries, detectives confirmed they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Formal identification is yet to take place and the next of kin is being kept informed of developments and supported by specialist officers.

Jasmin Kuczynska, 12, (left) and her sister, aged seven (East Anglia News Service)

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Burgess, who is leading the investigation, said: “Following this latest development we remain satisfied no one else was involved in this incident. This latest information will only add to the distress and shock felt by members of the local community and it’s why, from the outset, we’ve been determined to carry out detailed and methodical enquiries to make sure we fully understand how this incident has happened.

“I would like to thank the community for their support and for the many people who have called offering information. We continue to work through this and will get back to everyone who has been in touch. The police cordon remains in place at the scene and we will continue to have a presence in the area tomorrow.”

Police outside a house in Costessey near Norwich after four people were found dead (PA Wire)

The incident has been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) due to police contact at the address on 14 December, relating to a missing person enquiry, and in relation to a 999 call made from a man at the address prior to the incident, which didn’t result in the deployment of officers.

The IOPC will assess the circumstances of the call and determine the appropriate level of investigation required. As a result, no further information relating to the circumstances of this call will be released at this time.