Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has claimed that the horrific murder of hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte by an asylum seeker could have been prevented if Labour had supported Conservative plans to deport arrivals to Rwanda.
A Tragic Case and Political Point
Mr Philp made the assertion following the life sentencing of Sudanese national Deng Chol Mejek for the brutal killing of 27-year-old mother Rhiannon Whyte at Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall in October 2024. The Shadow Home Secretary directly linked the tragedy to what he termed the "consequences of mass illegal migration."
Details of the Attack
The court heard how Mejek, who had entered the UK by small boat less than three months prior, tracked Ms Whyte after she finished her shift at the Park Inn hotel where he was being housed. In a frenzied and unprovoked assault captured on CCTV, he stabbed her 23 times, inflicting 19 wounds to her head, including a fatal brain stem injury.
Ms Whyte was discovered injured on a deserted platform by a train driver and guard approximately five minutes after the attack. She tragically succumbed to her injuries in hospital three days later. Jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court took just over two hours to unanimously convict Mejek of murder and possessing a screwdriver as an offensive weapon.
Family's Heartbreak and Courtroom Statements
During the sentencing hearing at Coventry Crown Court, Ms Whyte's family branded her killer "demonic and inhuman." Her mother, Donna Whyte, delivered a powerful victim impact statement, telling Mejek, "let me see you dancing now." She vowed that her daughter's name would not be forgotten, while describing the killer as "an evil nightmare."
The Political Controversy Over Deportation
Chris Philp MP seized upon the timing of Mejek's illegal entry, arguing that under the Conservative-backed Rwanda scheme, he would have been eligible for rapid deportation. "If Labour had allowed the Rwanda scheme to start as planned, this man could have been rapidly deported instead of being put up in an asylum hotel," Mr Philp stated.
He added, "This murder could have been averted, and Labour must now explain why they think this man should have been in the UK, not Rwanda." The Shadow Home Secretary concluded by calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival.
The Fate of the Rwanda Policy
The Conservative government's Rwanda deportation plan was ultimately scrapped in July 2024 after failing to deport any unwilling asylum seekers. Despite an investment of hundreds of millions of pounds, only four individuals were voluntarily relocated under the scheme.
The policy faced significant legal hurdles, being deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court, and failed to act as an effective deterrent, with small boat crossings continuing throughout its troubled existence.
Police Investigation and Public Reaction
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell from British Transport Police described Mejek's attack as "frenzied, sadistic and unprovoked." He noted the killer's complete lack of remorse, having "laughed, danced and joked around" in the aftermath of the murder.
DCI Attwell paid tribute to the "extraordinary strength and dignity" shown by Rhiannon Whyte's family throughout the traumatic legal process. He urged the public to remember Ms Whyte for "her kindness, her energy and the joy she brought to those around her, rather than the person responsible for her death."
The sentencing hearing attracted attention outside the court, with groups waving England flags and far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, joining the crowds. Serco, the company that operated the hotel where Mejek was housed, confirmed it ceased using the facility for asylum seekers in the same month as the murder.
