Deng Chol Majek

Asylum seeker found guilty of murdering hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte in Walsall

Asylum seeker found guilty of murdering hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte in Walsall

Crime /

An asylum seeker has been found guilty of murdering a young woman who worked at the hotel where he was staying in the West Midlands. Deng Chol Majek, originally from Sudan, stabbed 27-year-old Rhiannon Whyte 23 times with a screwdriver in what prosecutors described as a “vicious and frenzied” attack at Bescot Stadium railway station […]

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Asylum Seeker Accused of ‘Frenzied’ Screwdriver Killing Says He Fled Sudan Because It Was ‘Dangerous’ An asylum seeker accused of murdering hotel worker Rhiannon Skye Whyte has told a court he fled his homeland because it was “dangerous” for him. Deng Chol Majek, who denies the charge of murder, gave evidence at Wolverhampton Crown Court, saying he left Sudan aged 16 due to threats from an Army officer and the ongoing conflict in the country. Prosecutors allege Majek, who was staying at the Park Inn Hotel in Walsall, followed Ms Whyte from the hotel to Bescot train station, where he stabbed her 23 times in what they described as a “frenzied” attack. The defendant insists he was born in 2001 and is 19, though prosecutors have questioned his age, suggesting he could be 27. Majek, speaking through an interpreter, said he was born in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, and speaks Dinka and Arabic. He said he did not attend school and never learned English. Explaining why he fled Sudan, Majek said a man in the Army wanted to marry his sister, which his family refused, leading to threats and forcing them to move from South Sudan to North Sudan. He said he left Sudan altogether in April 2022, shortly after marrying, fearing the Army officer would pursue him. From there, he travelled through Libya, Italy, and Germany before arriving in the UK, where he claimed asylum in July 2024. Asked why he sought asylum, Majek replied: “I was threatened in Sudan and it was dangerous for me.” He told the court that the outbreak of war in 2022 also influenced his decision to flee, adding: “There was a war and I was threatened while I was in Sudan.” Majek said he has no previous convictions, cautions, or warnings in the UK or abroad. Jurors heard of an alleged incident in Germany in August 2023, when Majek was accused of kicking a train door while drunk. The case was dropped, and he told the court it was a misunderstanding caused by a mistake in his German identity papers. Majek, of Bescot Crescent, Walsall, denies murdering Ms Whyte on 23 October 2024 and possessing an offensive weapon ; a screwdriver on 20 October 2024. The trial continues. asylum seeker, Walsall, Rhiannon Skye Whyte, Wolverhampton Crown Court, Deng Chol Majek, screwdriver murder, Sudan, UK crime, Home Office, murder trial, Park Inn Hotel, Bescot station, Khartoum, immigration, UK courts, Midlands news, crime in UK, BBC Midlands, Sudan war, asylum claim, Wolverhampton court case

Asylum Seeker Accused of ‘Frenzied’ Screwdriver Killing Says He Fled Sudan Because It Was ‘Dangerous’

Crime /

An asylum seeker accused of murdering hotel worker Rhiannon Skye Whyte has told a court he fled his homeland because it was “dangerous” for him. Deng Chol Majek, who denies the charge of murder, gave evidence at Wolverhampton Crown Court, saying he left Sudan aged 16 due to threats from an Army officer and the

Asylum Seeker Accused of ‘Frenzied’ Screwdriver Killing Says He Fled Sudan Because It Was ‘Dangerous’ Read More »

Court Hears How Asylum Seeker ‘Danced, Laughed’ After Killing Hotel Worker

Court Hears How Asylum Seeker ‘Danced, Laughed’ After Killing Hotel Worker

Crime /

An asylum seeker allegedly stabbed a hotel worker 23 times with a screwdriver after following her home from work, a murder trial has heard. Deng Chol Majek, a Sudanese national who claims to be 19, is accused of murdering 27-year-old Rhiannon Skye Whyte near Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall on 20 October last year.

Court Hears How Asylum Seeker ‘Danced, Laughed’ After Killing Hotel Worker Read More »