A man convicted of murder has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 42 years, for fatally stabbing his pregnant girlfriend after she refused to terminate their unborn child.
Shaine March, who was on parole at the time, attacked 32-year-old Alana Odysseos by stabbing her 19 times at her residence in Walthamstow, east London. March confessed to the police, stating, “I did it. I killed her, hahahaha.”
Despite being requested to appear at the Old Bailey, March refused to do so, dismissing it as just a sentencing. The prosecution emphasized the importance of his presence to understand the impact of his actions on the victim’s family.
Security footage captured March leaving the scene and making disturbing remarks in a police vehicle following his arrest. He admitted to his mother via audio message that he was responsible for the murder and would be going to jail.
Appearing via video link from Belmarsh prison, March faced sentencing. The judge highlighted the severity of the violence inflicted on Alana, emphasizing the targeting of her reproductive organs during the assault. March was described as using sustained force and control over Alana before the deadly incident.
Despite pleas for a whole life order, the judge noted that due to March’s age, he might never be released. March had a history of violence, having been previously imprisoned for fatally stabbing another individual in 2000.
Alana, who was pregnant with March’s child, had been urged by loved ones to leave the abusive relationship. However, she was still with him on the night of the attack, where she adamantly refused his demand for an abortion, expressing her desire to protect her baby.
Alana’s family members shared their emotional statements in court, condemning March’s actions and expressing their profound grief over losing their beloved daughter and sibling. They described Alana as a caring and courageous individual who was tragically transformed by her relationship with March.
The court was informed about the controlling and abusive behavior Alana endured in her relationship with March, leading to her isolation from friends and a sense of fear and vulnerability. Witnesses recounted hearing Alana’s desperate pleas for help as she was found outside her home, fatally wounded.
Prosecutors emphasized the deliberate and heinous nature of March’s crime, highlighting his lack of remorse and the devastating impact on Alana’s family and community. They stressed the importance of holding perpetrators of violence against women accountable and ensuring justice for the victims and their loved ones.
