Deng Chol Majek latest: Asylum seeker 'caused devastation across generations' for hotel worker's murder

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Deng Chol Majek has been sentenced to a minimum term of 29 years for the murder of Rhiannon Skye Whyte.

Passing sentence at Coventry Crown Court, Mr Justice Soole said the Sudanese national had acted with "a chilling composure in every aspect of your behaviour" when he killed the 27-year-old in October 2024.

The "significant degree of premeditation" and "particularly vicious brutality" of the the attack were aggravating factors in the sentence, the judge says.

He adds there were no mitigating factors to take into account.

Mr Justice Soole says the evidence against Deng Chol Majek, both in DNA and CCTV, was "overwhelming", yet the defendant continued to deny that he was the assailant.

He says the murder of Rhiannon Skye Whyte has caused "devastation" to her "loving family, across the generations".

Majek previously claimed to have been born in January 2006, but an age assessment report shows the "greatest likelihood" that he was born in 1998, the judge says.

Deng Chol Majek's sentencing is now under way at Coventry Crown Court.

Mr Justice Soole will summarise the case before the sentence is passed.

You can watch the judge's remarks live at the top of this page.

We've been getting pictures from outside Coventry Crown Court ahead of Deng Chol Majek's sentencing.

Several people gathered outside the court can be seen waving the Union flag and the flag of St George.

The British Transport Police helped lead investigations into Rhiannon Skye Whyte's murder after she was killed on the platform at Bescot Stadium train station. 

"It was a brutal, cowardly and unprovoked attack on a vibrant, selfless young woman who had her whole life ahead of her," Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said outside court after Deng Chol Majek's conviction in October.

"It is truly shocking to me that at no point has Majek ever shown any remorse for taking Rhiannon's life in such a violent and cold-blooded way.

"In fact, he has appeared completely unbothered - bored even - throughout this trial, much to the distress of Rhiannon's poor family, who have had to face her killer in court every day."

DCI Attwell paid tribute to Ms Whyte's family for the "unbelievable strength and dignity they have shown in the most horrific of circumstances".

Judge Mr Justice Soole has now heard all legal submissions for Deng Chol Majek's case and briefly risen.

He will return to deliver his sentencing remarks at 11:30.

If you're just joining, we should be hearing from the judge Mr Justice Soole in the next hour.

Until then, we will hear from the prosecution - on sentencing guidelines - and the defence, who will try to offer mitigation.

There will likely also be some victim impact statements from Rhiannon Skye Whyte's family.

Stay tuned, we'll bring you updates here.

Rhiannon Skye Whyte's sister Alex gave an emotional statement after Deng Chol Majek's conviction in October.

The victim "always wanted to make everyone else around her happy" and always prioritised her family, her sibling said.

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

"The screams of pain from this beautiful little boy will haunt me for the rest of my life, but we will never let Majek haunt him. 

"This child should never have had to experience the pain and misery that he has caused."

CCTV footage released after Deng Chol Majek's conviction captures the moments before the asylum seeker murdered Rhiannon Skye Whyte.

Majek can be seen following the victim into a car park at Bescot Stadium station and up stairs on to the platform.

Earlier footage also shows Majek staring at female workers at the Park Inn hotel, including Ms Whyte, while they hand out snacks to other residents.