‘Demonic’ asylum seeker stabbed resort employee to loss of life earlier than ‘dancing and laughing’

An asylum seeker who stabbed a hotel worker to death with a screwdriver after following her to a deserted railway station has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years.

Deng Chol Majek was seen dancing and laughing at Walsall’s Park Inn Hotel after stabbing Rhiannon Whyte 23 times on a platform at Bescot Stadium railway station on October 20 in 2024. He was also seen buying beer before returning to the hotel.

Mr Justice Soole had previously adjourned sentence on Majek in October overs doubts about the Sudanese migrant’s claim to be only 19-years-old.

The killer, who is believed to have entered the UK by small boat less than three months before the killing, is known to have given authorities in Germany a date of birth that would mean he is now 28.

Rhiannon, who was aged 27-year-old, left behind a young son as her mother and sister both gave statements at the sentencing.

Addressing Majek, who listened to proceedings through an interpreter, Rhiannon’s mother Donna Whyte said: “Let me see you dancing now.”

She said: “Her name will not be forgotten, she will not be a distant memory. We will keep her alive in our memory. You, however, are an evil nightmare that will be put aside, known only for your cruel and malicious act.

“By the grace of God, I hope you never see the outside world again.”

Rhiannon sister described her killer as “demonic and inhuman” in an emotional statement to Coventry Crown Court ahead of Majek’s sentencing.

Alex Whyte condemned him for showing “no remorse” and taking “no responsibility for your cowardly actions”.

Addressing Majek, who showed no emotion, Alex said: “You continue to show no remorse and to take no responsibility for your cowardly actions. We still don’t know or understand why you stalked, hunted and preyed upon Rhiannon. Cornering her before unleashing your vicious and unprovoked attack.

“I honestly feel that calling you demonic and inhuman is justifiable in the circumstances. What are we supposed to say? You brutalised Rhiannon and then partied as if nothing had happened. You celebrated. You might as well have danced on her grave.”

Passing sentence at Coventry Crown Court, Mr Justice Soole told Majek he had brought “devastation” to the family of hotel worker as he imposed a life sentence for murder.

He said: “The evidence against you, in particular CCTV and DNA, was overwhelming You continue to deny that you were the assailant.

“The court is thus left with no explanation of what possessed you to murder a member of the hotel staff, who together with her colleagues, had been serving and helping you and your fellow residents.”

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Soole said the Sudanese asylum seeker had taken a screwdriver to the scene with “intent” to murder Rhiannon.

He said: “The CCTV shows that for substantial parts of the evening of October 20 you had been in the reception area of the hotel and staring fixedly in the direction of the group of female employees, including Rhiannon, who were working there.

“Then at the time of the end of Rhiannon’s shift, you went outside by the main entrance after Rhiannon had come out, you then followed her all the way to the station platform armed with your weapon.

“Secondly, the particularly vicious brutality of this sustained assault with your chosen weapon. Thirdly, its commission against a woman alone late at night in a public place.

“Fourthly, your disposal of evidence with the intent of escaping detection. The CCTV evidence shows you throwing Rhiannon’s mobile into the river. It was later retrieved by a police diver. You evidently disposed of the screwdriver.”

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