Man who killed pregnant girlfriend given Whole Life Order
Shaine March, of Surrey Quays, London, had his sentence increased to a Whole Life Order after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. He murdered his pregnant girlfriend Alana Odysseos after she refused to have an abortion, with Odysseos identifying him as her attacker before dying. March has a long history of violence, including a 2000 murder conviction and a 2013 recall for assaulting a pregnant partner, and the Solicitor General said the ruling removes a dangerous offender from the streets to protect others.
A man with a violent history who murdered his pregnant girlfriend after she refused to have an abortion has his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.
Shaine March, of Surrey Quays, London, had his sentence increased to a Whole Life Order after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
The court heard that March and Alana Odysseos had been in a short and abusive relationship. March constantly monitored Alana, demanded she answer his calls at all hours, destroyed her children’s toys and had smashed a glass in her face.
In the early hours of 22 July 2024, Alana Odysseos, 32 at the time, was found on Lynmouth Road, Walthamstow, East London, with multiple stab wounds. She identified March as her attacker before dying at the scene.
After the incident, March stated that he had stabbed Alana, while telling the police he did not regret it.
The night before she died, Alana had messaged her sister concerned about the relationship before having an argument with March after he confronted Alana to have an abortion.
The court learnt March had previously served a 13-year life sentence after being convicted of murder in 2000. He was recalled to prison in 2013 after assaulting a pregnant partner.
The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said:
Alana Odysseos was a loving mother whose life was tragically cut short in an act of appalling violence by a man with a long history of serious violence. Alana’s daughters have lost their mother, and her family have lost someone they loved deeply.
There is no room for violence against women and girls and I welcome the court’s decision to increase Shaine March’s prison sentence, removing this extremely dangerous offender off our streets and protecting anyone else suffering harm. I would like to express my deepest sympathies to Alana’s daughters and everyone who cared for her.
On 31 October 2025, March was sentenced to life with a minimum of 42 years at Central Crown Court after being convicted murder.
On 26 March at the Court of Appeal, Shaine March’s sentence was increased to a Whole Life Order.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/man-who-killed-pregnant-girlfriend-given-whole-life-order
