Double assassin jailed for stabbing girlfriend in Walthamstow

A person who murdered his pregnant girlfriend whereas on license for a earlier homicide conviction has been sentenced to life with a minimal of 42 years.

Alana Odyssios, 32, grew up in Suffolk and was about eight weeks pregnant when she died outdoors her flat in Walthamstow, east London, on July 22, 2024, after being stabbed 19 instances with a kitchen knife.

Shayne March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, initially admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished accountability and denied manslaughter, however partially pleaded responsible Through testing.

Sentencing on the Old Bailey earlier in March, choose Mr Justice Murray mentioned he might by no means be launched given “his age” and the minimal time period.

“I am convinced that you intended to kill him,” Mr Justice Murray advised March, who was refusing to attend the sentencing listening to in particular person through video hyperlink from HMP Belmarsh.

The court docket heard that Ms Odyssios had a tumultuous relationship with March for 4 months earlier than her homicide, throughout which neighbors heard frequent arguments however noticed no outward indicators of violence.

The probation service in London organized safety checks, however no additional motion was taken when March advised them that the connection between him and Ms Odyssios had ended amicably.

March was 21 when he killed 17-year-old Andre Drummond by stabbing him within the neck, and in July 2000 he was convicted of homicide and sentenced to life in jail.

He was launched in early 2013 and recalled to jail later that 12 months after being convicted of assaulting his then-pregnant girlfriend and was launched once more in February 2018.

Ms Odyssios's sister Jasmine Yates advised the court docket she had watched her sister's psychological well being grow to be “erratic” and that she had tried to encourage her to depart the march when he advised her to delete all male contacts from her telephone.

Ms Yates mentioned that whereas March had promised Ms Odyssios he would go to therapy and make modifications, he additionally left voice notes telling his sister to get an abortion.

The court docket heard Ms Odyssios advised a pal she was scared after March smashed glass in her face.

In a sufferer influence assertion, Ms Yates mentioned she advised her sister: “If he can glass you, he can kill you. I am horrified by these words and what happened next.”

Ms Odysseus's mom Karen Cronin advised the court docket: “I loved going to church and singing in the choir, but the anger I felt was [March] I don't feel Christian so I don't go to church anymore.

“I need him to die in jail and haven’t any hope of doing the identical to anybody else.”

During the trial, the court was shown CCTV footage of March as he walked out of Ms Odyssos' flat after attacking her and destroying evidence including a mobile phone and clothes.

Police recovered March's phone from a drain and found a voice note he had recorded after 03:00 BST which said: “Mom I simply killed a girl and I'm going again to jail.”

CCTV and police bodycam footage of his March arrest showed him repeatedly admitting to murdering and stabbing Ms Odyssios.

He also described himself as a “criminal” who deserved to be put in jail.

While March was in custody at Barking police station in London, she said: “I stabbed him several times with a long kitchen knife.

“I feel the final blow was behind his shoulder blade, most likely piercing his coronary heart.”

Forensic pathologist Dr Matt Sica told the court that post-mortem analysis showed Ms Odyssios was stabbed from behind in the heart.

He said the attack was carried out with such “extreme pressure” that 5 of the 19 knife wounds he sustained might have been deadly in themselves.