A Sudanese asylum seeker who brutally murdered a young mother by stabbing her 23 times with a screwdriver has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years. Deng Chol Majek carried out what the court described as a "frenzied" attack on Rhiannon Skye White as she waited alone on a deserted railway platform in Walsall.
Horrific Details of the Attack Emerge
The 27-year-old victim had just finished her late shift working at a migrant accommodation hotel and was walking to Bescot Stadium train station when Majek followed her. CCTV evidence presented during the trial showed Majek closing in on Ms White as she made her way to the platform on the evening of October 20, 2024.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC described how the victim had been speaking to a childhood friend on her mobile phone when the attack began. "Her chilling screams echoed down the phone as Majek slaughtered her," the court heard. The killer then fled the scene, leaving Ms White's bloodied body on the platform where horrified railway staff later discovered her.
Forensic Evidence and Trial Proceedings
Despite Majek's denial of the murder, overwhelming forensic evidence connected him to the crime. The mother's blood was found on his clothing, and her DNA was discovered under his fingernails. Medical evidence revealed that 11 of the stab wounds had penetrated Ms White's skull, with one injury damaging her brain stem and ultimately causing her death three days after the attack.
Mr Justice Soole presided over the sentencing at Coventry Crown Court, noting that there were "doubts" about Majek's claimed age of 20. The judge indicated that the defendant was likely between 25 and 28 years old, based on evidence presented during the proceedings.
Disturbing Aftermath and Conviction
Following the murder, Majek was captured on camera returning to the male-only hotel where he had been housed while his asylum application was being processed by the Home Office. Shockingly, footage showed him dancing and laughing with others gathered outside the accommodation, with prosecutors stating he appeared "clearly excited about what he had done."
Majek had arrived in the UK on a small boat just three months before the killing. During his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, he claimed to speak no English and gave evidence through an Arabic interpreter, swearing his oath on the Bible while flanked by security guards.
Unanimous Jury Verdict
The jury unanimously convicted Majek of both murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place following deliberations last October. The court heard how the train Ms White had been waiting for arrived at 11.24pm, with staff onboard immediately alerting emergency services to the horrific scene.
Prosecutors detailed how the distinctive cross-head pattern of a Philips screwdriver matched the puncture wounds found on the victim's body. "Most of the stab injuries were to her head, but some were to the left side of her chest and left arm, indicating she had tried to fend off her attacker," Ms Heeley told the court during the trial proceedings.
