Asylum Seeker Accused of Brutal Murder of Hotel Worker

In the UK, a Sudanese asylum seeker has been charged with the brutal killing of 27-year-old hotel worker Rhiannon White on a railway platform in Walsall.

The accused, Deng Majek, who claims to be 19 years old, allegedly attacked Rhiannon 23 times with a screwdriver at Bescot Stadium Station, according to prosecutors.

Three days after the assault, Rhiannon died in hospital.

During the trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC told the jury that the accused appeared to be “clearly elated by his actions.” She added that, after the murder, Majek was seen “dancing and smiling.” However, Majek has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

Forensic evidence reportedly links him directly to the crime. The victim’s blood was found on the suspect’s clothing, and her DNA samples were discovered under his fingernails, the court heard.

Majek had been living at the Park Inn Hotel in Walsall, which accommodates asylum seekers. Rhiannon had been employed there for about three months in the cleaning and catering departments. Co-workers said there had been no serious conflicts between them. A minor disagreement over “some broken biscuits” had once been reported, but prosecutors said it was trivial and unrelated to the killing.

CCTV footage played in court showed Majek watching Rhiannon as she finished her shift around 11:00 p.m., and following her as she left the hotel. Prosecutor Heeley explained, “He waited until she was alone before following her to the station.”

At 11:04 p.m., Rhiannon received a phone call from a friend. As she reached the platform, Majek was seen approaching her. The prosecution said the attack occurred at that moment. Her friend reportedly heard a sudden scream, then another, before the call abruptly ended at 11:19 p.m.

Soon after, Majek was seen running away with an object in his hand — believed to be Rhiannon’s mobile phone. Before returning to the hotel, he stopped at a nearby shop to buy a drink. Prosecutor Heeley told the court, “Between the station and the hotel, he threw Rhiannon’s phone into a river. When he got back, he was in a state of excitement — dancing and laughing about what he had done.”

Rhiannon’s scheduled train arrived at 11:24 p.m., and the driver saw a body lying on the platform. A transport officer and another hotel worker tried to help her, but she could not be saved.

She remained unconscious until her death on October 23. Medical experts found 23 stab wounds, 11 of them to her head and skull. The fatal wound had damaged her brain stem. Additional injuries to her chest and arms showed she had tried to fight back.

The cross-headed screwdriver used in the attack has still not been recovered.

“He left her bleeding to death, walked back to the hotel as if nothing had happened, and showed no remorse,” the prosecution concluded. “You can be sure he is guilty of this murder.”

The trial is expected to continue for three weeks.