A double murderer who killed his pregnant girlfriend while on licence for a previous murder has been slammed by judges and given a whole life order.
Brutal Stabbing in East London
Alana Odysseos, 32, from Suffolk, was stabbed 19 times outside her flat in Walthamstow, east London, on 22 July 2024. She was in the early stages of pregnancy with her third child at the time.
Shaine March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, was originally jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years last October. The Solicitor General referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing it was too lenient.
Judges Say Sentence “Unduly Lenient”
“The sentence was unduly lenient. We quash it, and… substitute in its place a whole life order, which means that the offender will never be released.” – Lord Justice Edis
March had been freed on life licence in 2013 after stabbing 17-year-old Andre Drummond to death in 2000.
Details from the Court
- March initially admitted manslaughter claiming diminished responsibility but later pleaded guilty to murder.
- Evidence showed March abused Odysseos during their four-month relationship, controlling and isolating her.
- The couple argued about her pregnancy hours before the killing, with Odysseos reportedly saying, “I don’t want to kill my baby.”
- A child witnessed the attack, and the death of the unborn baby was deemed a serious aggravating factor.
- March’s defence cited his traumatic brain injury but the court ruled it wasn’t a major cause of the crime.
Final Words and Reactions
March, watching via video link from HMP Belmarsh, told Odysseos’ family: “I just want to say that I am sorry.”
The Solicitor General said: “Alana Odysseos was a loving mother whose life was tragically cut short in an act of appalling violence by a man with a long history of serious violence. Her daughters have lost their mother, and her family have lost someone they loved deeply.”
