The sister of a young mother murdered while waiting for a train has delivered a devastating victim impact statement, describing her sibling's killer as 'demonic' and 'inhuman'. Rhiannon Skye Whyte, a 27-year-old hotel worker, was stabbed 23 times with a screwdriver at Bescot Stadium railway station in October 2024.
Brutal Attack After Late Shift
Rhiannon Whyte had just finished her late shift at the Park Inn hotel in Walsall, a male-only migrant accommodation, when she was followed to the deserted station platform. Sudanese national Deng Chol Majek, who was living at the hotel while his asylum application was processed by the Home Office, tracked the young mother and launched what the court heard was a 'frenzied and savage' attack just minutes before her train was due to arrive.
Family's Agonising Wait for Justice
After a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court last year where Majek denied both murder and possession of an offensive weapon, jurors returned guilty verdicts. The sentencing finally took place at Coventry Crown Court on Friday, January 30, where Mr Justice Smith imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years before parole consideration.
In her powerful statement read to the court, Alex Whyte spoke on behalf of Rhiannon's devastated family, including her siblings Emma, Daniel and Cara, plus her two nieces and seven nephews. Most poignantly, she represented Rhiannon's now six-year-old son, who will grow up without his mother.
'A Life Sentence for All of Us'
'On Sunday, October 20, 2024 we were all given a life sentence when this person conducted his vicious and pitiless assault on a terrified and defenceless young woman,' Alex Whyte told the court. 'The pain and suffering we have experienced since the horrific attack is something we still have to address every day, and I cannot see a time when this will not be the case.'
The family endured fifteen months of legal proceedings before seeing justice served, during which time they were unable to properly grieve. 'We have had to endure a year and three months of heartache and pain, unable to grieve because of our fight for justice,' Alex explained. 'You took advantage of our judicial system with your blatant ignorance and arrogance.'
Dehumanising Court Process
The grieving sister described how the legal process had further traumatised the family, forcing them to hear graphic details of the attack while Rhiannon was reduced to 'evidence' rather than being remembered as the vibrant person she was. 'We were unable to give her a funeral for four months because she was still evidence,' Alex revealed. 'Rhiannon was dehumanised at every turn throughout this process.'
She directly addressed Majek's lack of remorse throughout the trial: 'You continue to show no remorse and to take no responsibility for your cowardly actions. We still don't know or understand why you stalked, hunted and preyed upon Rhiannon.'
Remembering Rhiannon's Beautiful Spirit
Alex painted a vivid picture of her sister's character, describing her as 'smart, kind, funny, thoughtful, caring, hardworking' and emphasising that 'she belonged to us'. 'She was a piece of all of us and the best of us,' she told the court. 'A mother, daughter, sister, aunty, niece, cousin, granddaughter, and friend to so many.'
The family take some comfort from knowing Rhiannon fought bravely for her life during the attack. 'We now know from the evidence we had to listen to that she was brave. She fought for her life under a brutal, savage and frenzied attack,' Alex stated.
A Young Son's Devastating Loss
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of the statement concerned Rhiannon's young son, who Alex now has responsibility for raising. 'Having to sit him down and try to find the words to explain all of this to him was unimaginably difficult and painful,' she shared. 'Telling someone with no concept of the type of cruelty which has taken his mother, that she is never coming home, was heartbreaking.'
'It is no exaggeration to say that his screams will haunt me forever,' Alex continued, describing how she struggled to explain that 'this wasn't done by the sort of monster he might have seen on TV or read about in a book but by a real person.'
Despite his trauma, the boy shows remarkable resilience and carries forward many of his mother's qualities. 'He is intelligent beyond belief and tells us that he wants to be a brain doctor so he can save people, the way Rhiannon couldn't be,' his aunt revealed.
Final Words to the Killer
In her concluding remarks, Alex Whyte delivered a powerful message to Majek: 'You may have taken her voice, her future and her life but you will never silence us and she will live on in all of us.' She described her sister's 'unwavering strength and kind heart' and how she 'faced challenges with courage and grace'.
The family's final wish for the killer was clear: 'Majek, we wish to see you spend the rest of your life alone and devoid of the love and warmth of the support of family and friends. You deserve no compassion, no leniency.' Alex concluded: 'But you can never repay your debt. Rhiannon was simply priceless to all of us.'
The case has concluded with Majek beginning his life sentence, while Rhiannon Whyte's family continue their journey of grief, forever changed by their loss but determined to keep her memory alive through her young son and their enduring love for her.
