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A man who murdered his pregnant girlfriend after being released from prison on licence has been jailed for 42 years.
Alana Odysseos, 32, was in the early stages of pregnancy with her third child when she was killed by Shaine March last year at her home in Walthamstow, east London. She died at the scene from stab wounds after the attack on 22 July 2024.
March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, admitted her murder on the seventh day of his trial after an expert no longer supported his claim of diminished responsibility.
Odysseos was among the women whose deaths were included in the Guardian’s Killed women count – a project highlighting the toll and tragedy of femicide in the UK. She was described as a “brilliant mother” who “completely doted” on her daughters.
Jurors in March’s trial were not told that he had been convicted of murder before. He was 21 when he fatally stabbed 17-year-old Andre Drummond in the neck at a McDonald’s restaurant in Denmark Hill, south London, in January 2000.
He was released on a life licence in early 2013, and recalled to jail later that year after he stamped on the stomach of another pregnant girlfriend in July. He was released again in February 2018.
March also had convictions for assault and criminal damage in 1995.
The court was told Odysseos had known about March’s murder conviction, and safeguarding checks had been made by probation services. But when the defendant said their relationship had ended amicably, no further checks were made.
Hours before killing Odysseos, March had argued with her about whether to abort their unborn child, with the victim heard to say: “I don’t want to kill my baby.”
On Friday, Mr Justice Murray jailed March for life with a minimum term of 42 years. He rejected calls from Odysseos’s family and the prosecution for a whole-life order but noted that, given his age, March may never be released.
March had appeared in court by videolink from Belmarsh prison, having initially refused to come to the Old Bailey.
Odysseos’s mother, Karen Cronin, said: “Alana, my beautiful kind and loving daughter, left this earth in the most callous and brutal way imaginable.
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“The person who has done this to my daughter – who I don’t think deserves the respect of using his name – is evil and a coward. Why did he have to resort to the level of violence he used?”
The court heard statements from her three sisters, including Jasmine Yates, who said: “You took more than one life that night. You took Alana, you took the baby she was carrying, the child she was excited about. I fear if you are ever released you will kill again.”
DI Aytac Necati, who led the investigation, said March had been unhappy with the news that Odysseos was pregnant, leading to an escalation in the controlling and coercive behaviour she endured during their short relationship.
Prosecutor Louise Oakley argued for a whole-life order – meaning March would never be released – given the “exceptionally high” level of offending.
Previously the court had heard how police were alerted by members of the public in Lynmouth Road who found Odysseos outside her home wearing a nightie and dressing gown and clutching her right side.
Bleeding from multiple stab wounds to her body, she pointed at the defendant standing nearby and shouted: “Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me. Help, help.”
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In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org
