A MIGRANT followed an asylum hotel worker to a train station then stabbed her 23 times with a screwdriver, a murder trial heard.
Rhiannon Skye Whyte, 27, was left to bleed to death following the horror at Bescot Stadium train station in Walsall, West Midlands.
Rhiannon was stabbed to death at a train station[/caption]
She had been working at an asylum hotel[/caption]
The mum had just finished a shift at Park Inn by Radisson hotel where Deng Chol Majek had been staying, jurors heard.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Majek, 19, was seen on CCTV following the mum before she was heard screaming in a phonecall to a pal.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC said: “He followed her down on to the train platform at the Bescot Stadium station and then he attacked her. Stabbing her over and over again with a screwdriver.
“He left her bleeding to death and then casually went back to his hotel. We say you can be sure he is guilty of murder.”
Jurors heard the Sudan national got a drink from a nearby shop and threw Rhiannon’s phone in a river.
He was later seen “dancing and laughing, clearly excited about what he had done” back at the hotel, it was said.
The court heard Rhiannon had worked at the hotel for about three months, helping with things including cleaning and serving food.
On October 20 last year, one of her co-workers noticed Majek “staring at Rhiannon and the women she was working with”, the prosecutor said.
Ms Heeley added: “No one could recall any particular issue that would have caused him to act in that way. There had been an issue about some broken biscuits with some of the residents but nothing serious.
“What is clear from the CCTV is that the defendant was hanging around the reception area, staring at Rhiannon throughout the evening.
“He changed into a distinctive jacket and sandals and then waited around the reception area where Rhiannon was.”
Jurors heard once Rhiannon left to make her way home at 11pm, Majek followed her.
Ms Heeley added: “He had been hanging around waiting for her to leave and waited until she was on her own before he followed her.”
At 11.04pm, Rhiannon called a friend and was seen on CCTV – with Majek captured two minutes later.
He then “closed the gap” to 90 seconds and then 30 seconds as she reached the deserted platform at 11.13pm, the court heard.
The prosecutor said: “It was then that the prosecution say that this defendant attacked her. Rhiannon had been talking to her friend.
“But it went silent before (the friend) heard a scream, then another scream. The phone went dead at 11.19pm.
“Shortly after that this defendant could be seen running back up the stairs from the platform. He had an object lit up in his hand – that was Rhiannon’s mobile phone.”
Rhiannon’s friend called the police after hearing screams and also contacted the hotel, who sent one of their employees to the station.
The train that Rhiannon had been due to catch pulled in at 11.24pm and the driver saw a figure slumped on the platform.
Ms Heeley continued: “The guard tried to help Rhiannon, as did the employee who had come from the hotel. But sadly she was too seriously injured and nothing could be done to save her.
“She passed away on October 23, having never regained consciousness.”
Majek denies murder and possessing a screwdriver as an offensive weapon.
The trial continues.
Rhiannon was allegedly followed to the station by Majek[/caption]
