In a case that has shocked communities across London, Shaine March stands accused of the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Alana Odysseos. The 32-year-old mother of two was stabbed 19 times in her Walthamstow home on July 22, 2024, just weeks after discovering she was expecting her third child. Prosecutors at the Old Bailey allege that March, 47, carried out the attack following a heated argument fueled by accusations of infidelity and demands for an abortion. March has admitted to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but denies the murder charge. The trial, which began on October 9, 2025, has revealed a pattern of controlling and violent behavior in the brief four-month relationship.
The Fatal Attack: A Night of Horror in Walthamstow
The events of July 22, 2024, unfolded in the early hours at Alana Odysseos’s flat on Lynmouth Road, Walthamstow, east London. According to prosecutor Louise Oakley, the couple had been arguing intensely the previous evening over March’s insistence that Odysseos terminate her pregnancy. Witnesses reported hearing raised voices from the property around 10pm, with Odysseos heard saying, “I don’t want to kill my baby.” The dispute appeared to subside temporarily, but tensions reignited in the dead of night.
At approximately 3am, concerned members of the public spotted Odysseos staggering outside her home, clad only in a nightie and dressing gown, clutching her right side. She was bleeding profusely from multiple stab wounds and immediately pointed toward Shaine March, who was standing nearby, shouting repeatedly, “Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me. Help, help.” Emergency services were called at once, but despite frantic efforts to save her, Odysseos succumbed to her injuries at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed she had suffered 19 stab wounds, including fatal injuries to her chest, stomach, pelvis, shoulders, buttocks, right arm, thighs, and lower legs.
March did not flee the immediate area. Instead, he walked away calmly as paramedics attended to Odysseos. Less than two hours later, at 4:41am, staff at a nearby Creams Cafe in Walthamstow contacted police after encountering a blood-soaked March who confessed, “I killed my wife and child.” Upon arrest, he reportedly reiterated his guilt to officers, stating plainly, “I did it. I killed her, Alana Odysseos.” The kitchen knife used in the attack was recovered from the flat, bearing traces of Odysseos’s DNA.
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Odysseos was four weeks pregnant at the time, a detail that prosecutors emphasize as central to the motive. The unborn child, her third, perished along with her. Neighbors described the quiet residential street as typically peaceful, making the violence all the more jarring. Police cordoned off the area for hours, with forensic teams combing the scene for evidence. This tragic incident not only claimed two lives but left Odysseos’s two young children without their mother, highlighting the devastating ripple effects of domestic violence.
A Relationship Marred by Control and Violence
Court testimony has painted a grim picture of the relationship between Shaine March and Alana Odysseos, which lasted just four months before ending in tragedy. They met in early 2024, and Odysseos soon discovered she was pregnant. What began as a seemingly hopeful romance quickly deteriorated into a cycle of coercion and aggression, according to friends and family who testified.
Odysseos confided in her sister about March’s volatile temper. Voice notes shared via WhatsApp captured March shouting threats, including vows to have her daughter taken away by social services, hurling derogatory insults, denying paternity of the unborn child, and demanding an abortion. Despite this, Odysseos expressed love for him and believed his promises to change. Her sister urged her to leave, but Odysseos hesitated, caught in the emotional turmoil of a new relationship.
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Friends recounted further instances of control. Shaine March allegedly restricted Odysseos’s movements, forbade her from speaking to others, discarded her child’s toys in fits of rage, and once smashed a glass into her face during an argument. Around three months before the killing, Odysseos began documenting these episodes, telling confidants they argued constantly. The day prior to the stabbing, she messaged her sister that March was “acting up,” signaling escalating distress.

Shaine March’s history adds a layer of concern. He was on licence from a previous life sentence for an unspecified violent offense, having been released from prison shortly before entering Odysseos’s life. Prosecutors argue this background underscores his propensity for violence, with the recent release failing to curb his abusive tendencies. Despite red flags, no formal intervention occurred, a point that has sparked discussions on support systems for at-risk women. Odysseos, a devoted mother, had hoped for stability but found herself ensnared in a toxic dynamic that ended fatally.
The infidelity accusation, central to the case title, emerged during the abortion dispute. March reportedly claimed the child was not his, tying into broader paranoia about cheating. This jealousy-fueled rage, combined with rejection of his abortion demand, prosecutors say, triggered the lethal outburst. Experts note such patterns are common in coercive control cases, where possessiveness escalates to deadly force.
Trial Proceedings and the Path to Justice
Shaine March’s trial at the Old Bailey commenced on October 9, 2025, with opening statements laying bare the prosecution’s case for murder. Louise Oakley described March as a “violent and controlling” individual whose actions were premeditated and driven by rejection. The jury has heard graphic accounts of the autopsy and witness testimonies, including 999 call recordings capturing Odysseos’s final pleas.
March’s defense admits the killing but pleads diminished responsibility, suggesting mental health factors impaired his judgment. Details of this defense remain under wraps, but it could influence sentencing if murder is not upheld. He faces life imprisonment if convicted of murder, with a minimum term to be determined. The trial is expected to last several weeks, featuring expert witnesses on domestic abuse and forensic analysis.
Odysseos’s family, including her two children now in care, attended the proceedings, issuing statements of profound grief. “Alana was a loving mother taken too soon,” one relative said outside court. Advocacy groups have seized on the case to call for stronger protections, including better monitoring of released offenders and expanded resources for pregnant women in abusive relationships. Statistics show intimate partner violence accounts for a significant portion of female homicides in the UK, with pregnancy often heightening risks.
As deliberations continue, this case serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers in domestic settings. The loss of Alana Odysseos and her unborn child underscores the urgent need for awareness and intervention. Updates will follow as the trial progresses, but for now, justice remains the focus for a family forever altered.
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