A pregnant woman was brutally stabbed to death by her violent and controlling boyfriend — a convicted killer who had previously served a life sentence for another murder.
Thirty-two-year-old Alana Odysseos, who was in the early stages of pregnancy with her third child, was attacked by 47-year-old Shaine March at her home in Walthamstow, east London, in the early hours of July 22, 2024.
March, who initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, later changed his plea to murder during his trial at the Old Bailey.
It was revealed in court that March was just 21 years old when he fatally stabbed 17-year-old Andre Drummond in the neck during an altercation at a McDonald’s restaurant in January 2000. He was convicted of murder later that year and sentenced to life imprisonment.
After being released on licence in 2013, March was recalled to prison the same year for assaulting another partner before being released again in 2018.
He began a relationship with Alana in early 2024 — a relationship that quickly turned abusive and controlling. Prosecutor Louise Oakley told the court, “She was vulnerable. All she wanted by the time she died was to be loved.”
Alana, who had already suffered “huge personal loss” after losing two previous partners, confided in her father that March had been in prison and was on licence. She also told relatives that he accused her of cheating, forced her to delete male contacts from her phone, and sent her threatening voice notes claiming their unborn baby wasn’t his and demanding that she have an abortion.
Her sister, Jasmine Yates, said March had a “split personality and temper issues,” but Alana was deeply in love and believed he could change.
On the night of July 21, Alana texted her sister saying that March was “acting up.” Jasmine replied, “Oh sis, you deserve so much better x.” Alana responded, “Can’t help who you love, but he don’t love any of us.”
A few hours later, neighbours heard shouting and saw Alana outside in tears, wearing her dressing gown. Around 3 a.m., she was found bleeding heavily from 19 stab wounds to her chest, stomach, pelvis, shoulders, arms, thighs, and legs.
As she lay dying, witnesses heard her cry out: “Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me. Help, help.”
March fled the scene, later recording a voice note saying: “Mum, I just killed a woman, and I’m going back to jail.”
He walked into Creams Café in Walthamstow covered in blood and told staff, “I killed my wife and child.”
When arrested, March allegedly told police: “I did it. I killed her — Alana Odysseos. I killed her, hahahaha.” He then asked officers to take him to prison, saying: “Put me where I belong. I’m scum. I deserve it.”
Even in custody, March continued his violent behaviour — kicking another detainee in the head and knocking out three teeth while handcuffed.
He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on October 31, with prosecutors urging the judge to impose a whole life order, meaning he will never be released.
Members of Alana’s devastated family, who sat through the entire trial, watched as March shouted and swore in the dock before finally changing his plea to guilty. They later thanked the prosecutors and Metropolitan Police for their efforts in securing justice.
Alana’s sister, Jasmine, described her as a “pure-hearted person” and a “brilliant mother” whose life was cruelly taken by a man she believed she could save.
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