A woman who was stabbed to death at a £4m home in Westminster has been named, with police launching an urgent manhunt for her killer.
The body of 27-year-old Kamonnan Thiamphanit, who was known to her friends as Angela, was discovered by officers after her friends raised concerns for her welfare.
Neighbours had also heard high-pitched screaming coming from the property in Stanhope Place, which is just a stone’s throw away from Marble Arch and Oxford Street.
Police forced entry at approximately 8.30am on Monday, 8 April, and have referred themselves to the police watchdog after it emerged they had received two calls from her friends on Sunday evening but failed to act until the following day.
Her family have now said they are devastated by her death, with Scotland Yard vowing to catch whoever is responsible.
One elderly woman, who has lived on the street for over half a century, told MailOnline: “I did hear very, very high-pitched screams on Sunday evening coming from that direction.
“A series of screams. I recall two – I’m very sensitive to sound. They were very unusual. There was no other sound other than the screams, then silence after.”
Inside the Grade II-listed terraced home – which dates from the 1820s – near Marble Arch, police discovered the body Ms Thiamphanit, with her cause of death given as sharp force trauma.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Clifton, who leads the investigation, said: “My team continues to work tirelessly to piece together the events that led to Kamonnan’s murder.
“I would like to thank local residents for their patience while we have gone about our work at the scene.
“I would appeal to anyone who has information that could assist us, no matter how insignificant you think that may be, to come forward and speak to us.
“Kamonnan’s family and friends have been devastated by this murder and we must ensure whoever is responsible is held to account.”
There has been no arrest and inquiries continue.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard has referred itself to the IOPC after officers waited around 12 hours before responding to calls from her concerned friends.
The force said in a statement: “The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and a mandatory referral will be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to the initial contact from the woman’s friends.”
