Man who murdered hotel worker to undergo age check

Deng Chol Majek murdered Rhiannon Whyte in 2024

An asylum seeker who murdered a hotel worker by stabbing her 23 times with a screwdriver is to undergo tests to confirm his age.

Deng Chol Majek was convicted last month of killing Rhiannon Skye Whyte at Bescot Railway Station in October 2024.

During his trial, Majek, originally from Sudan, claimed he was 19, but prosecutors said they believed he was older.

Confirming his age will impact on how long his jail sentence will be, and a hearing was held at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday to discuss establishing it.

Ms Whyte started work at the Serco-run hotel in July 2024, at about the same time Majek arrived

Majek was staying at Park Inn Hotel in Walsall, where Ms Whyte worked, and followed her to the nearby train station where he attacked her.

He then fled with her phone which he threw into a river.

Ms Whyte was found slumped on a platform shelter by a member of railway staff. She died in hospital three days later.

Majek, who had earlier been staring at her and others at the hotel, in a "scary" and "spooky" manner, denied murdering her despite CCTV footage and DNA evidence linking him.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place at the same court on 15 December.