Deng Majek begins the first day of his minimum 29-year sentence today for the murder of Rhiannon Whyte.

Majek, a Sudanese national, claimed asylum in the UK in July 2024. Three months later, he stabbed Whyte repeatedly with a screwdriver at a train station in Walsall after following her from the nearby Park Inn Hotel - where she was working and he was staying.

Judge Mr Justice Soole said the attack on the 27-year-old was premeditated and involved "particularly vicious brutality", before handing him a life sentence.

Meanwhile, Whyte's family have described living with their own life sentence because of his actions. Whyte's mother, Donna, described her as the "gentlest, softest person" after the hearing at Coventry Crown Court.

We're now bringing our live coverage to end, but you can read the full story here.

Rhiannon Whyte's sister, Alexandra Whyte, read a statement on behalf of the family outside the court when Majek was found guilty in October 2025.

"There is no end to the pain or suffering we have had to endure or continue to experience," she said.

On the "horrific" day her sister was killed, she said Majek had shown her "no mercy", adding that he was a "sick, twisted and cowardly human who showed no regard for Rhiannon or human life".

"I am raising Rhiannon's son," she adds, "and I cannot express the unimaginable pain of having to sit down and explain to a five-year-old child that the one person who loves him more than anything will not be coming home.

"The screams of pain from this beautiful little boy will haunt me for the rest of my life."

Correction: This post has been amended to make it clear that this statement was made in October 2025 after Majek was found guilty, rather than today after the sentencing.

Throughout the two-week trial, the prosecution also showed numerous pieces of CCTV, although none was available on the railway station platform itself.

Majek repeatedly insisted he was not the figure in the footage, despite the man wearing an identical hooded jacket to his, with a distinctive dark square patch on the left arm.

He maintained "anyone could buy one" and the man was not him, but the jury ultimately did not believe him.

Speaking after the sentence, the Crown Prosecution Service referenced the weight of DNA evidence against Majek.

One of the witnesses during the trial in October was forensic scientist Elizabeth Simpson, who told the jury that Whyte's blood had been found on clothes, shoes and a ring worn by Majek.

Image source, BTP

Simpson also told the court that the blood was a billion times more likely to come from Ms Whyte than anyone else.

Despite that, denied that there was any DNA evidence.

Cross-examining Majek during his evidence, prosecution barrister Michelle Heeley KC asked him why an independent forensic scientist was wrong.

"I don’t know why, because I’m sure my stuff had no blood on it," he replied.

Later in the trial he was asked why Rhiannon's DNA had been found under his right fingernail.

He replied: "I never touched her, and there is no DNA."

The jury ultimately did not believe his evidence.

Image source, PA Media

Serco, which operated the Park Inn Hotel in Walsall at the time Majek was living there, said it stopped using it to house asylum seekers the same month Whyte was killed.

A Serco spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with Ms Whyte's family. We are pleased that her killer has been brought to justice."

Outside Coventry Crown Court, members of Rhiannon Whyte's family have been speaking to members of the press.

Donna Whyte, her mother, says she is "pleased" with the sentence given to Majek, but adds that the "family have got a life sentence" too because of his actions.

"I will hate him till the day I take my last breath," she says, before adding that her love for her daughter is stronger.

She says stress and grief during the course of the trial had a big impact on the family, including Rhiannon's grandmother dying two days after the verdict.

She describes her daughter as the "gentlest, softest person" who was "very family-orientated" and "loved her friends with her life".

Attwell closes his statement by saying "I have no doubt that Rhiannon would be immensely proud" of her family.

He pays tribute to the "extraordinary strength and dignity" they show in front of one of the most "traumatic" things a family could go through.

"As we close this chapter, it is important to remember Rhiannon for the person she was," he says, describing her kindness, joy and energy that she brought to those around her.

"It is Rhiannon's life and legacy that should live on."

Attwell describes it as a "frenzied, sadistic and unprovoked attack" on an innocent woman.

"He laughed, danced and joked around" afterwards, showing no remorse and giving no explanation, Attwell adds.

His "callous indifference has played out every day in court for Rhiannon's poor family".

Image source, PA Media

Det Ch Insp Paul Attwell, from British Transport Police, says Whyte was "brutally and senselessly murdered".

“Her killer may have been sentenced to life in prison today, but no sentence or outcome will ever really be justice for Rhiannon’s family and friends, who continue to live with this insurmountable, horrific loss," he tells the media.

Her family's "own life sentence" began in October 2024, he adds, when Whyte was taken from them.

We've now been hearing from the police, who have been giving a news conference.

We'll bring you the key lines here.

Majek is said to have lied to the court about his age, claiming to be 19, despite documents filled in during a failed asylum claim in Germany suggesting he was 27.

An age assessment report was ordered ahead of sentencing.

Mr Justice Soole said Majek maintained he was aged 18 when he entered the UK in July 2024, but tests had concluded he was actually between 25 and 28.

Sentencing guidelines, external are different for children under 18, but the guidance to judges reads "many of the principles will also be relevant to sentencing young adults (aged 18-25)".

So his age could have had an impact on the length of his jail term.

The judge sentenced him on the basis he was 26.

This is the moment that police arrested Deng Majek on suspicion of attempted murder, a few hours after Rhiannon Whyte was attacked.

Whyte died three days later in hospital, so the charge was then upgraded to murder.

Majek was arrested inside the Park Inn Hotel in Walsall, where he was living and Whyte had been working.

“Although nothing can bring Rhiannon back, I hope these convictions provide some sense of justice to her family and friends," said Carla Harris from the Crown Prosecution Service, reacting to the sentencing.

Image source, PA Media

“He attacked her for no reason, and callously left her bleeding on a station platform. He then appeared to rejoice in his actions, having been caught laughing and dancing on footage an hour later," she said in a statement.

Although the stabbing itself was not captured on CCTV, she said the prosecution case against Majek included DNA evidence, witness testimony and CCTV "showing him stalking Rhiannon to the station and returning to the hotel in his distinctive bloodied clothing".

"He was also the only person to enter and leave the platform during the time of the attack," Harris added.

"All of this allowed the jury to convict him of his crimes."

During his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Soole told Majek that in his judgement his age and level of maturity provided "no level for mitigation".

Image source, PA Media

He told him there had been a "chilling composure in every aspect of your behaviour".

Majek's defence team had referred to him as having no previous convictions, a medical issue and limits on his command of the English language.

However, the judge said: "I have no doubt your English is better than you suggest. There are no mitigating factors."

James Bovill
at Coventry Crown Court

"No words of mine can provide comfort to you," Mr Justice Soole said, addressing the family.

"No words can begin to meet the suffering you go through and your terrible loss.

"I express my profound sympathy. I do want to again say how I also so greatly admire the calm dignity of you all throughout the trial."

Whyte's mother wiped a tear as the judge wished them the best.

As he handed down the sentence, the judge told Majek to stand.

"The sentence for murder is imprisonment for life," the judge said.

The sentence takes into account the time served in prison already, which means Majek will be jailed for 27 years and 264 days.

Deng Majek has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years for the murder of Rhiannon Whyte.

Majek had provided minimal assistance to the court, says Mr Justice Soole.

"You continued to deny that you were Rhiannon's assailant," he says.

He had also provided a limited account of his life in Sudan before his departure, and was unwilling to discuss his past medical history.

"You have refused to answer questions, including those about events in Sudan," he adds.

Mr Justice Soole is now outlining aggravating factors of the case.

The first is that on the evening of the murder, the "offence involved a significant degree of pre-meditation".

He says that for substantial parts of the evening Whyte was murdered, Majek had been in the communal parts of the hotel and was staring at Whyte.

At the time of her shift end, he went outside to the main entrance and followed her to the station platform "armed with your weapon".

Secondly, he references the "particularly vicious brutality" of the murder.

Thirdly, its "commission against a woman alone, late at night, in a public place".

The final aggravating factor from the judge is the disposal of evidence with intent of escaping detection.

Turning now to the sentencing guidelines, Mr Justice Soole outlines the role of the Parole Board and explains the licensing conditions which will be imposed on Majek for the rest of his life.

"You brought a weapon to the scene and used it in the murder," the judge says - referencing the screwdriver.

"I am sure you brought it to the scene with the intent to murder Rhiannon."

He believes the minimum term starts at 25 years as he continues to outline other aggravating factors.