Sudanese asylum seeker Deng Chol Majek has been jailed at Coventry Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 29 years for murdering hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte on a railway station platform in Walsall.

Majek is believed to have entered the UK by small boat less than three months before launching a frenzied assault on mother-of-one Ms Whyte at Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall on October 20 2024, stabbing her 23 times.

Majek is said to have tracked Ms Whyte to the station after she finished a shift at the Park Inn hotel, where he had been living, at 11pm before inflicting 19 wounds to her head, including a fatal brain stem injury. Ms Whyte’s family branded Majek “demonic and inhuman” in statements made in court on Friday as he was handed a life sentence.

CCTV played at Majek’s trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court showed he disappeared from view on to a deserted platform for 90 seconds at around 11.18pm to attack Ms Whyte, 27, the mother of a five-year-old son.

She died in hospital three days later, after being found injured in a shelter on the platform by the driver and guard of a train which pulled in about five minutes after the attack.

Jurors deliberated for two hours and five minutes before unanimously convicting him of murder and possessing a screwdriver as an offensive weapon.

Majek is said to have lied to the court about his age, claiming to be 19 despite a date of birth making him 27 being recorded by authorities during a failed asylum claim in Germany. Presiding, Mr Justice Soole said Majek maintained he was aged 18 when he entered the UK in July 2024 but age assessments had concluded he was actually aged between 25 and 28, with the judge sentencing him on the basis he was 26.

Ms Whyte’s family members arrived at Coventry Crown Court for the hearing wearing white t-shirts with her picture on it as groups of people waved England flags outside the building and far-right Tommy Robinson joined the crowds.

In an emotional statement to the court, Rhiannon’s sister said she was speaking on “behalf of me and my broken-hearted siblings Emma, Daniel and Cara, and Rhiannon’s two nieces and seven nephews. Most importantly for her now six-year-old son”.

She said Majek carried out a “vicious and pitiless assault on a terrified and defenceless young woman who he claims never to have spoken to or noticed”.

Addressing Majek, who showed no emotion, Ms Whyte added: “I honestly feel that calling you demonic and inhuman is justifiable in the circumstances. What are we supposed to say? You brutalised Rhiannon and then partied as if nothing had happened. You celebrated. You might as well have danced on her grave.”

She said: “Her name will not be forgotten, she will not be a distant memory. We will keep her alive in our memory. You, however, are an evil nightmare that will be put aside, known only for your cruel and malicious act. By the grace of God, I hope you never see the outside world again.”

The trial heard Majek had been reported to security at the hotel after “spookily” staring at three female staff members for prolonged periods. No motive for the killing was given at the trial, but Majek had brushed past Ms Whyte earlier in the evening as he left the hotel to smoke.

After inflicting fatal injuries on Ms Whyte, Majek walked to the Caldmore Green area of Walsall to buy beer and was recorded on CCTV seemingly wiping blood from his trousers. He returned to the hotel at 12.13am, changed his bloodstained flip-flops for trainers, and was seen dancing with other residents in the car park, within sight of emergency vehicles called to the station.

Rhiannon’s mother Donna Whyte also gave a statement in court, telling Majek “let me see you dancing now”.

Defence KC Gurdeep Garcha said Majek continues to deny he was the person who murdered Ms Whyte.

He said: “When he was interviewed by a probation officer in late November last year, the defendant denied he was guilty of the offences of which the jury convicted him. He maintains his denial and maintains his innocence. In that sense, we offer no mitigation in terms of knowledge, insight, regret or remorse.”

He added: “There is no dispute that this is a case of a 25-year starting point. We invite my lord to reflect upon whether there was significant premeditation. We can’t dispute there was some degree of premeditation, the weapon was concealed and he followed Ms Whyte some distance to the train station.”

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Soole told Majek he had brought “devastation” to the family of Ms Whyte as he imposed a life sentence. The evidence against you, in particular CCTV and DNA, was overwhelming,” he said.

The judge said Majek had taken a screwdriver to the scene of the murder and used it to kill Ms Whyte. “I am sure that you brought it to the scene with the intent to murder Rhiannon,” the judge said. He added that Majek had showed “no empathy for the victim”. He said: “You have provided the court with no explanation for your conduct, nor any reliable basis to consider any suggested mitigating factors.

“I see no basis for this statutory mitigating factor which arises where the intent was to cause serious bodily harm rather than to kill.”

Serco, which ran the hotel where Majek was being housed, said it stopped using the hotel to house asylum seekers the same month Ms Whyte was killed. A spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with Ms Whyte’s family. We are pleased that her killer has been brought to justice.”