A grieving mother has held Sir Keir Starmer accountable after her daughter was brutally murdered by a Sudanese migrant, raising questions about the UK’s asylum policies. She is particularly concerned about why the attacker, who was denied asylum in other European countries, was able to seek refuge in Britain.
In a horrifying incident, Deng Chol Majek violently attacked 27-year-old Rhiannon Whyte, stabbing her 23 times with a screwdriver in a planned assault that lasted just 90 seconds. The attack took place in October 2024 at the Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall, after Majek had followed her there.
Siobhan Whyte, Rhiannon’s mother, is now questioning how Majek, who crossed the Channel to reach the UK, was allowed to apply for asylum after being rejected in both Germany and Italy, the countries where he initially arrived.
Invited to Parliament by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Ms. Whyte, who resides in the West Midlands, passionately urged politicians to tighten border controls to prevent further tragedies like her daughter’s.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Ms. Whyte expressed the enduring impact of her daughter’s murder, describing it as a ‘life sentence’ for her family. She directed her frustration at the Prime Minister, seeking accountability.
“Starmer talks about apologizing to Epstein’s victims, but what about the safety of our women and children?” she questioned. “What about my daughter? And my grandson, who now has to grow up without his mother?”
Ms Whyte had previously sent the Labour leader two emails requesting a meeting on the issue, which went unanswered.
She previously met with Safeguarding Minister Jess Philips three years ago shortly following her daughter’s murder, however, Ms Whyte said she has heard nothing since.
The mother of Rhiannon Whyte (pictured) has blamed Sir Keir Starmer for her daughter’s death, questioning why her murderer was allowed to claim asylum in Britain after being refused in Italy and Germany
Deng Chol Majek (pictured), who is from Sudan but arrived in the UK by small boat in July last year, was found guilty of murdering Rhiannon after stabbing her multiple times with a screwdriver
When asked if she had a message for the Prime Minister, Ms Whyte said: ‘I know it was the government before him but why is he not stopping it?’
She added that she believes he is to blame for her daughter’s being ‘taken,’ as he has allowed migrants to ‘take over’ Britain.
She said: ‘The government should and send them back. Why are they coming over here?
‘I know, it’s because the UK will give everything freely. But I’ve got to live with this for the rest of my life. You know, my six-year-old grandson’s going to live without his Mum.’
Mother-of-one Rhiannon was responsible for Majek and other migrants while working at Park Inn Hotel – an asylum hotel – in Walsall.
She had just completed a shift at 23:00 on October 20, 2024, and was speaking on the phone to a friend while walking to the railway station.
While standing on the platform, Majek attacked her, with one of her injuries so deep it pierced her brain stem.
Rhiannon died in hospital three days later. Majek was caught on CCTV shortly after the event laughing and dancing.
Mother-of-one Rhiannon (pictured) was attacked moments after leaving work and died in hospital with her family by her side
Rhiannon’s mother Siobhan (pictured) was invited to Parliament this week, where she demanded that ministers close borders to migrants to prevent similar deaths to her daughter’s
The Sudanese national had arrived in Britain three months before the murder and made a legal claim for asylum on the basis he was fleeing war in Sudan.
In January, he was handed a minimum prison term of 29 years at Coventry Crown Court for Rihannon’s murder. No motive for the attack was ever established.
Throughout his trial, Ms Whyte said Majek showed ‘no remorse.’
She labelled Majek as ‘evil,’ and after viewing the CCTV footage from the night of her daughter’s murder, said: ‘Excuse my French, but I’m really p***ed off with this government that they’re not doing anything.’
Mother-of-five Ms Whyte is now establishing a foundation in her daughter’s memory to aid the children of murdered women and bolster tougher immigration controls.
She said any ‘undocumented migrants’ should be held in secure accommodation away from women and children, however, accepted for some genuine asylum seekers from war-torn countries provisions should be made for ‘safe and legal’ routes into Britain.
Chris Philp, who hosted Ms Whyte, said Rhiannon’s case exemplifies how ‘the government’s failure to control our borders is directly putting lives in the UK at risk.’
He added the case of Majek is an example of why ‘illegal immigrants should be immediately deported upon arrival.’
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The murder of Rhiannon Whyte was an abhorrent crime, and our thoughts remain with her loved ones.
‘We share the public’s anger about the broken asylum system, which is precisely why we are doing everything we can to keep dangerous offenders out of the country and close down hotels.
‘Both the Prime Minister and Minister Phillips have spent their careers tackling violence against women and girls, and this government will always make the time to meet with a victim’s family.’
