Teen kart racer denies murdering Airbnb host in £4m London home
An international kart racer accused of stabbing his Airbnb host to death in her £4million Hyde Park mansion within hours of arriving in the UK has denied murder.
Enzo Bettamio, 18, was charged with murdering Kamonnan Thiamphanit, 27, also known as Angela, after being extradited from the United Arab Emirates in April.
The dual Brazilian and Italian national appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
The court previously heard that the defendant had allegedly killed Ms Thiamphanit, during a period of 24 hours in the UK in 2024.
Then aged 16, he had arrived at Gatwick Airport on a flight from Los Angeles, US, on April 5, 2024.
He had allegedly used the Airbnb app to book a room for a month at Ms Thiamphanit’s property in Stanhope Place, near Marble Arch in central London.
Ms Thiamphanit spent that evening playing board games with friends, leaving in the early hours of April 6, citing an emergency at the Stanhope Place address, the court heard.
The court was previously told an Uber driver dropped her off at 4.24am, which was the last time she was physically seen alive.
Some 13 hours later, the defendant allegedly flagged down a black cab on nearby Bayswater Road to take him to the 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 April 8, two days after he flew to the UAE.
Bettamio was extradited back from the United Arab Emirates to the UK.
A post-mortem examination found she had died from multiple sharp force injuries.
Ms Thiamphanit had dual Chinese-Hong Kong and Thai nationality and moved to the UK to study around 10 years ago.
Bettamio, of no fixed address, spoke to confirm his identity and deny the charge of murder in a hearing before Judge Simon Mayo KC.
The defendant, who wore a dark Adidas tracksuit jacket and had a plaster covering his right eye, was remanded in custody and will face trial beginning on February 1 next year.
Prosecutor Nadeem Holland earlier said: ’Ms Thiamphanit 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 Thiamphanit 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 Thiamphanit left her address to meet some friends. She spent the evening with them playing board games.
’Ms Thiamphanit 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 Thiamphanit 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.’
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell previously said: ’I would like to express my sincere thanks to Angela’s family and friends for their patience and unwavering support to the investigation, throughout what has been an incredibly difficult and distressing time for them.’
Technology & Business Editor
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