A man has been found guilty of murdering 27-year-old hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte in a frenzied attack at a railway station in Walsall. Deng Chol Majek, a Sudanese national who had claimed asylum in the UK, followed Whyte to Bescot Stadium station after she finished her late shift at the Park Inn hotel in Wolverhampton on 20 October 2024.
Majek, who was staying at the hotel, stabbed Whyte 23 times with a screwdriver, including 11 blows to her skull. She died in hospital three days later from a fatal brain injury. The prosecution described the attack as 'vicious and frenzied'. CCTV footage showed Majek following Whyte to the station, then throwing her phone into the River Tame before buying a beer and returning to the hotel.
During the trial, jurors saw footage of Majek dancing and drinking in the hotel car park after the attack, with blue flashing lights from emergency services visible in the background. Housing officer Tyler English told the court that Majek was 'drinking, smoking and just chatting amongst his group of friends', appearing to be 'having a good time'. Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC said Majek was 'clearly excited about what he had done'.
Police arrested Majek in the early hours of 21 October and seized items including a jacket, ring and sandals, which were found to have Whyte's blood on them. DNA under his fingernails also matched Whyte's. During a police interview lasting over 90 minutes, Majek remained silent.
Hotel staff testified that Majek had been staring at Whyte and colleagues, making them feel uncomfortable. Chef Louise Brittle said he 'couldn't take his eyes off any of us', while duty manager Claire Taylor-Bevans reported feeling 'intimidated' and said Majek 'brushed past my arm and knocked Rhiannon's arm' on the day of the attack.
Whyte's childhood friend Emma Cowley, who was on the phone with her during the attack, described hearing a 'high-pitched, terrified, in-pain scream'. Majek was found guilty of murder and possessing an offensive weapon at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday.
