The harrowing case of Shaine March has once again ignited public outrage and debate over the justice system’s handling of repeat violent offenders. The 47-year-old man, described in court as “evil” and “cowardly,” has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Alana Odysseos, in Walthamstow, east London.
The case is as chilling as it is tragic, not only for the shocking level of violence inflicted but also for the disturbing reality that this was not Shaine March’s first killing. His previous murder conviction and a long history of violent conduct have raised pressing questions about parole oversight and the protection of women from known offenders.
A Life Marked by Violence and Reoffending
Shaine March’s life has been defined by a series of violent acts spanning nearly three decades. His first known killing occurred in January 2000, when he was just 21 years old. During an altercation at a McDonald’s restaurant in Denmark Hill, south London, Shaine March fatally stabbed 17-year-old Andre Drummond in the neck. Convicted of murder, he was sentenced to life imprisonment but released on licence in 2013 after serving just over a decade behind bars. What followed was a pattern of aggression and disregard for human life that tragically culminated in yet another murder.
Shortly after his release, Shaine March was recalled to prison the same year for attacking another pregnant partner, stamping on her stomach in July 2013. Despite this alarming act of violence, he was released again in 2018. Court records revealed that March also had earlier convictions for assault and criminal damage dating back to 1995, painting a consistent picture of volatility and danger.
In each instance, his violent tendencies appeared to escalate. Probation checks had been conducted when he began his relationship with Alana Odysseos, but authorities accepted his assurance that their relationship had ended amicably, and no further monitoring was put in place. This lapse would later prove fatal. The court heard that Odysseos, despite being aware of his prior murder conviction, chose to stay with him—perhaps hoping he had changed. Her trust, however, was met with unimaginable cruelty.
The Murder of Alana Odysseos
In the early hours of July 22, 2024, Walthamstow residents were awakened by the desperate cries of a young woman. Alana Odysseos, 32, ran from her home wearing only a nightdress and dressing gown, bleeding heavily and clutching her side. Witnesses described her as terrified and barely able to stand, pointing at a man nearby and crying out, “Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me. Help, help.” Despite the efforts of neighbours, police, and paramedics, she collapsed and died outside her home.
The court later learned that Odysseos had been stabbed 23 times in a prolonged and frenzied attack. The wounds were concentrated across her chest, stomach, pelvis, shoulders, buttocks, arms, thighs, and legs. Among the most tragic aspects of the case was that she was in the early stages of pregnancy with her third child—a life cruelly cut short alongside hers. Hours before her murder, the couple had argued about whether to terminate the pregnancy, with Odysseos reportedly telling March, “I don’t want to kill my baby.”
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After the killing, March showed no remorse. Before disposing of his mobile phone, he recorded a chilling voice note saying: “Mum, I just killed a woman, and I’m going back to jail.” Later that night, he was seen at Creams Café in Walthamstow, covered in blood, telling staff, “I killed my wife and child.” When police arrived to arrest him, he confessed with chilling detachment, laughing as he said, “I did it. I killed her, Alana Odysseos. I killed her hahahaha.” He later told officers he “saw red” and grabbed a kitchen knife after an argument over a pair of his trainers.
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Even in custody, Shaine March’s violent tendencies persisted. While handcuffed and escorted by officers, he kicked another detainee in the head, knocking out three of the man’s teeth. His behaviour confirmed the prosecution’s assessment that he remained a dangerous and remorseless individual incapable of rehabilitation.
Courtroom Drama and Family Testimonies
The trial at the Old Bailey painted a picture of both horror and heartbreak. Initially, March pleaded not guilty, claiming diminished responsibility due to alleged mental health issues. However, on the seventh day of the trial, after an expert witness withdrew support for that claim, he changed his plea to guilty. He appeared via videolink from Belmarsh prison, having refused to attend court in person, and remained emotionless throughout the sentencing.
Mr Justice Murray, in delivering the sentence, described the murder as “a sustained and brutal attack on a defenceless woman.” He imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 42 years, meaning Shaine March will be in his late 80s if ever considered for release. Although the prosecution and Odysseos’s family called for a whole life order—ensuring he would die in prison—the judge concluded that, given March’s age, the 42-year term was effectively equivalent.
Family members of the victim gave emotional statements in court that underscored the depth of their grief and anger. Alana’s mother, Karen Cronin, spoke with anguish and fury, describing her daughter as “beautiful, kind, and loving” and condemning her killer as “evil and a coward.” She told the court: “The person who has done this to my daughter – who I don’t think deserves the respect of using his name – is evil and a coward. Why did he have to resort to the level of violence he used? The anger I feel towards him doesn’t feel Christian, so I can no longer go to church. I will never have forgiveness in my heart. I want him to die in prison.”
Her father, Alan Yates, described Alana as a “happy-go-lucky” young woman who was “kind and considerate” and loved her children deeply. He said that something in her changed after she met March, that she had become “a timid, vulnerable person who was not our Alana.” His words captured the torment of parents who watched helplessly as their daughter’s life spiraled under the influence of a dangerous man. “Every day I wonder why he didn’t walk away,” he said. “Alana was pregnant with his child. This meant nothing to him.”
Alana’s sisters also shared their pain and fury. Lorraine Schofield described March as a “monster” and “evil, disgusting coward,” saying, “All Alana wanted was to be loved. The baby she so desperately wanted to protect that night was taken away.” Her sister Jasmine Yates added directly to March: “You took more than one life that night. You took Alana, you took the baby she was carrying, the child she was excited about. I fear if you are ever released you will kill again.”
Prosecutor Louise Oakley argued for a whole life order, citing the “exceptionally high” level of violence and the fact that March was already a convicted murderer. She noted that this was one of the most severe forms of reoffending imaginable: a man already serving a life sentence committing a second murder while on licence.
Failures in the System and Questions of Accountability
Beyond the individual crime, the case has reignited debate over how the criminal justice system monitors and manages violent offenders released on life licences. March’s history of brutality, particularly his 2013 assault on a pregnant partner, should have been a red flag indicating an ongoing risk. Despite multiple warnings, he was released again in 2018, only to commit yet another killing six years later.
Probation authorities acknowledged that safeguarding checks had been conducted when March began seeing Odysseos. However, when he reported that the relationship had ended amicably, no further investigation or monitoring took place. Critics argue that this gap represents a systemic failure—one that left Odysseos unprotected despite the state’s prior knowledge of his capacity for extreme violence.
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The judge noted that while probation services had fulfilled their statutory duties, the tragedy exposed the limitations of current procedures. There remains an urgent need for stronger, ongoing monitoring of high-risk offenders, especially those with a history of domestic violence and murder. The case underscores how easily manipulation and deceit can undermine risk assessments, especially when an offender presents as compliant or reformed.
For women’s safety advocates, the murder of Alana Odysseos has become another devastating example of the dangers faced by victims of domestic abuse—particularly those entangled with partners who have violent criminal pasts. It also raises ethical and procedural questions about whether offenders with previous homicide convictions should ever be allowed unsupervised freedom.
An Enduring Legacy of Suffering
As the judge passed sentence, there was no visible reaction from March. To those who had gathered in court, his cold indifference only deepened their anguish. For Alana’s family, the sentence—though long—offered limited solace. The emotional scars left by the murder of a daughter, sister, and mother can never be healed by a legal ruling. Her family’s statements made clear that they will live with the pain forever.
In the aftermath of the sentencing, calls have grown louder for a review of parole processes and the handling of violent offenders. Questions remain as to how a man with such a long and well-documented record of brutality could repeatedly be given the opportunity to harm again. The case serves as a grim reminder that risk management in such instances must be rigorous, sustained, and vigilant.
Ultimately, the story of Alana Odysseos is one of love and trust betrayed by cruelty and violence. It is also a sobering indictment of a system that failed to protect her, even when the warning signs were unmistakable. The courtroom may have delivered justice in law, but for her grieving family, true justice will forever remain out of reach.
In the words of her mother, Karen Cronin, “He should never be let out.” For those who have followed this case, there can be little doubt that society must do far more to ensure that men like Shaine March never again have the chance to destroy innocent lives.