An asylum seeker accused of murdering a hotel worker has denied being at the train station where she was fatally stabbed. Deng Chol Majek told Wolverhampton Crown Court he was "staying in the hotel, outside" when Rhiannon Whyte was attacked and had no reason to harm her.
Prosecutors allege Majek, who claims to be 19, was caught on CCTV following Ms Whyte from Walsall's Park Inn hotel to nearby Bescot Stadium station. She was stabbed in the head 19 times with a screwdriver on October 20 last year and died several days later from her injuries.
Defendant denies involvement
When asked directly whether he was at Bescot train station when Ms Whyte was stabbed, Majek answered simply: "No." He also denied being "responsible for that fatal assault" on the platform when questioned by defence KC Gurdeep Garcha.
The defendant told the court through a Sudanese Arabic interpreter that he had "never had a problem with anyone" at the hotel during his approximately three-month stay. He claimed he had never noticed Ms Whyte and had not witnessed other residents having problems with staff members.
Majek denied having any reason to want to harm the 27-year-old, cause her serious injury, or kill her. He also told jurors he did not own a screwdriver while living at the hotel and was instructed to report any broken items to staff rather than fix them himself.
Claims about hotel behaviour
The court has heard allegations that Majek spent prolonged periods staring "spookily" at Ms Whyte and female colleagues, and deliberately brushed into her at the hotel entrance before her shift ended. He denied these claims, stating he was "just listening to music" and "didn't have them in mind."
When shown CCTV footage from the hotel entrance recorded about an hour before the attack, Majek denied deliberately brushing past women staff members. "I didn't hit anyone," he said, adding: "I was just walking my own path."
Background and asylum journey
Majek confirmed he had travelled through Libya, Italy and Germany before arriving in the UK to claim asylum in July last year. He told the court an incorrect date of birth held by German authorities, suggesting he is 27 rather than 19, was due to a mistake on an identity document.
The defendant denies murder and possessing a screwdriver as an offensive weapon. The trial continues.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
