An asylum seeker has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a young woman who worked at the hotel where he was staying.
Deng Majek killed 27 year old Rhiannon Whyte in a violent attack at Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall. The crime took place in October 2024 and shocked the local community.
Majek will serve a minimum of 29 years before he can apply for parole.
Victim Followed and Attacked After Work
Rhiannon Whyte finished her shift at the Park Inn Hotel at around 11:00 pm. She spoke on the phone with a friend while walking to the nearby railway station.
CCTV footage showed Majek following her onto the platform. He then launched a sudden and sustained attack using a screwdriver.
He stabbed her 23 times in just 90 seconds. Nineteen wounds were to her head. Eleven injuries damaged her skull, and one wound pierced her brain stem.
Railway staff found her minutes later on the deserted platform. Doctors rushed her to hospital, but she died three days later from her injuries.
Killer’s Actions After the Murder
After the attack, Majek took Rhiannon’s phone and turned it off. He later threw it into a river while calmly walking away from the scene.
CCTV later captured him buying beer and walking around Walsall. Footage shown to the jury showed him dancing and laughing in the hotel car park.
The judge described his behavior as cold and disturbing.
Court Sentence and Judge’s Statement
At Coventry Crown Court, Mr Justice Soole sentenced Majek to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years.
The judge said Rhiannon showed great courage while trying to defend herself. He described Majek’s actions as frenzied and brutal and said his calm behavior afterward was chilling.
No clear motive for the attack was ever established.
Family’s Pain and Emotional Statements
Rhiannon’s mother, Siobhan Whyte, delivered a powerful statement in court. She said her daughter was also her best friend and that her life changed forever that night.
She told Majek she hoped he would never see freedom again.
Outside the court, she said the sentence brought some relief but added that her family also received a life sentence.
Rhiannon’s sister, Alex Whyte, spoke about raising her late sister’s young son. She described the pain of explaining to him that his mother had died.
She said her nephew now dreams of becoming a brain doctor to help people like his mother.
Immigration Status and Public Reaction
Majek arrived in the UK by small boat three months before the murder. He made a legal asylum claim and stayed at the hotel, which housed asylum seekers at the time.
Outside the court, anti immigration protesters gathered. Far right activist Tommy Robinson briefly addressed the crowd before leaving.
