The family of Angela Thiamphanit who was found stabbed to death in Bayswater last month have said the police could have caught her killer.
The 27-year-old, who was also known as Kamonnan Thiamphanit, was fatally stabbed at a £4million Hyde Park property she was renting on April 8.
Police were alerted after her Bayswater neighbour heard two “high-pitched screams” but an inquest heard her killer may have now fled the UK.
There have not been any arrests made and the Met said on Saturday that enquiries are ongoing. The force has a suspect and issued an arrest warrant.
“Every effort is being made to bring the suspect before a court in the UK as soon as feasibly possible,” the Met said in its most recent statement.
Fiona Fu, Ms Thiamphanit’s mother, and Chris Zeng, the victim’s Chinese long-distance boyfriend of two years, told the Times on Saturday that they feel more could have been done.
Mr Zeng said he had passed on sufficient information at the point that she was missing.
“It’s more than [feeling] angry,” the 27-year-old said. “I was so crushed when we got a chance to catch the person and they didn’t respond.”
The family suspect that Ms Thiamphanit was killed by aman who messaged her on Airbnb - the room rental site which the victim ran a business on.
Mr Zeng said that the killer used Ms Thiamphanit’s phone to continue sending messages and that they even arranged a meeting. He said that he told this to the police but they did not want to join him for the meeting.
The force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after Ms Thiamphanit’s death as it had downgraded her missing status to ‘medium’ risk.
Mr Zeng added: “They had the chance to catch the person and they didn’t respond.”
Ms Thiamphanit, of Chinese-Hong Kong and Thai nationality, had been living in the UK for around nine years, having initially come over to study at university, and worked in property management.
A police spokesperson said: “Following consultation with the CPS, police obtained a first instance warrant (often referred to as an arrest warrant) and every effort is being made to bring the suspect before a court in the UK as soon as feasibly possible.
“The family have, and will continue to be, supported by specialist officers throughout the process.”