A man has been convicted of the murder of a hotel employee during an assault at a train station platform.
Deng Chol Majek, an asylum seeker from Sudan claiming to be 19 years old, was residing at the Park Inn hotel in Walsall when he was charged with the killing of Ms. Whyte. The 27-year-old victim sustained 23 stab wounds to the head on October 20 last year, passing away in the hospital three days later. Ms. Whyte was attacked around 11:15 pm while waiting for a train home after work. The prosecution presented CCTV footage during the trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, showing Majek staring at Ms. Whyte and deliberately bumping into her at the hotel entrance towards the end of her shift.
Subsequently, Majek was observed following Ms. Whyte into Bescot Stadium station and later leaving the platform. He was then seen socializing with friends, smoking, and drinking in a nearby car park close to the Park Inn hotel.
A housing officer from the hotel mentioned that Majek appeared to be in good spirits in the car park and seemed happier than before. Jurors were shown mobile phone footage of Majek dancing with his friends as they headed back to his hotel room.
Throughout the trial, Majek denied the charges of murder, possession of a screwdriver, and being present at the train station during the stabbing. He claimed to have been “outside the hotel” when the incident occurred. His testimony in court, translated by a Sudanese Arabic interpreter, included clarifications regarding an incorrect age registered in Germany, where he was listed as 27 years old due to an error in his identification document. Majek stated that he left Sudan at the age of 16.
In a statement, Senior Investigator DCI Paul Attwell remarked, “This was a vicious, cowardly, and unprovoked assault on a vibrant and altruistic young woman with a promising future ahead.
“Throughout our investigation, Majek has displayed no remorse for the brutal and cold-blooded manner in which he took Rhiannon’s life, nor has he provided any motive. His family had to endure a trial despite the overwhelming evidence against him.
“While justice has been served today, nothing can alleviate the suffering and anguish of Rhiannon’s family over the past year.
“I want to commend them for their remarkable resilience and grace in such harrowing circumstances, and for their unwavering support during our inquiry.
“The love Rhiannon received from her family and friends is evident, and today, we should honor her memory and legacy, rather than focus on her perpetrators.”
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