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Brutal Murder of Rhiannon Whyte: Deng Chol Majek Sentenced to Life in Prison
In a case that has shocked the nation, Deng Chol Majek, a Sudanese asylum seeker, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years for the murder of 27-year-old Rhiannon Whyte. The sentencing was handed down on 30 January 2026 at Coventry Crown Court, bringing a conclusion to a tragic chapter that began in October 2024.
The Attack
On the night of 20 October 2024, Rhiannon Whyte, a hotel worker and a devoted mother to her five-year-old son, was finishing her shift at the Park Inn Hotel in Walsall, West Midlands. Majek, who was living at the hotel as an asylum seeker, followed her from the hotel to the nearby Bescot Stadium railway station. There, he launched a sudden and frenzied assault, stabbing her 23 times with a screwdriver.
CCTV played in court showed Majek trailing Whyte before the attack and then leaving the station shortly afterwards. Emergency crews found her gravely injured on the platform; she was taken to hospital but died three days later from a catastrophic brain stem injury.
Trial and Conviction
Majek denied the charges at trial, offering no motive or explanation for his actions. However, the jury unanimously convicted him of murder and possession of an offensive weapon following overwhelming evidence, including CCTV footage and DNA linking him to the attack.
During the trial, Majek maintained he was a teenager, but age assessment evidence established that he was likely in his mid-20s at the time of the crime, and the judge sentenced him accordingly.
Sentencing
At sentencing, Mr Justice Soole described Majek’s conduct as lacking any explanation and deeply damaging to the family. The judge imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years before eligibility for parole, stressing the severity and senselessness of the attack.
The judge also noted that Majek had shown no remorse and had provided no credible reason for his actions, leaving the court with “no explanation of what possessed you” to commit such a brutal murder.
Impact on Family and Community
In victim impact statements read in court, Rhiannon’s family described the devastation of losing a daughter and mother in such violent circumstances. Her sister spoke of the “vicious and pitiless assault” on a “terrified and defenceless young woman” and the ongoing pain the family continues to endure.
Outside the courtroom, the case also drew public attention and sparked wider debate about immigration and public safety — with some political commentators and local residents expressing strong reactions to the circumstances surrounding Majek’s presence in the UK.
Legacy of a Life Taken
Rhiannon Whyte was remembered by her family and friends as a kind, hardworking woman with a bright future ahead of her. Her tragic death — and the brutal nature of the attack — has left a lasting impact on those who knew her, and a somber reminder of the consequences of senseless violence.
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Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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