A pregnant woman was fatally stabbed by Shaine March, the Walthamstow Child Killer, her abusive and domineering lover, who had previously completed a life sentence for another murder.
Alana Odysseos, 32, was in the initial phases of gestation with her third child when she was assaulted by convicted felon Shaine March at her residence in Walthamstow, East London, on the morning of July 22.
Shaine March, 47, was on trial at the Old Bailey, where he initially confessed to manslaughter due to reduced culpability before abruptly altering his plea to guilty of murder.
It can now be disclosed that March was 21 years old when he fatally stabbed a man in the neck at a McDonald’s in January 2000.
He was found guilty of the murder of 17-year-old Andre Drummond at the Old Bailey on July 17, 2000, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
After his release on licence in early 2013, he was reincarcerated later that year following an assault on another partner in July and was subsequently rereleased in February 2018.
Shaine March had been in a relationship with Alana for approximately four months before the homicide.
The court was informed that she had endured significant personal grief, having lost two boyfriends, who were the fathers of her two children.
Prosecutor Louise Oakley stated: ‘She was susceptible. Her sole desire at the time of her death was to be loved.
In April of the previous year, Alana disclosed to her father, Alan Yates, that Shaine March had been incarcerated and was currently on licence, as presented in court.
The court was informed that she revealed he had accused her of infidelity and compelled her to remove male acquaintances and contacts from her phone.
Alana presented her sister with WhatsApp voice notes from Shaine March, in which she was shouted at, threatened, insulted, and told that their unborn child was not his, along with demands for her to terminate the pregnancy, as reported to the jury.
In a court statement, Alana’s sister, Jasmine Yates, characterised him as possessing a ‘split personality and temperamental issues,’ yet asserted that her sister was ‘in love’ and unable to recognise it.
The court was informed that Alana expressed her love for him when prompted to depart from him, and said he vowed to change.
On the evening of July 21, she informed her sister that Shaine March was exhibiting disruptive behaviour.
Ms Yates responded, “Oh, sister, you deserve far better.” Alana replied, “One cannot choose whom they love, but he does not love any of us.”
Ms Oakley said to the jurors, “Unbeknownst to her, she would be deceased hours later.”
At approximately midnight, neighbours discerned a dispute and observed Alana outdoors in her dressing robe, weeping.
The altercation seemed to subside, but at approximately 3 AM, she was discovered outside the premises with lethal stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, pelvis, shoulders, buttocks, right arm, thighs, and lower legs.
Profusely bleeding from numerous knife wounds, she indicated the defendant nearby and exclaimed: ‘Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me.’ Assistance, assistance.
Shaine March departed, leaving Alana on the ground outside her residence, where she succumbed despite the interventions of law enforcement and paramedics, jurors were informed.
Before discarding his cell phone into a drain, Shaine March documented a voice note stating: ‘Mum, I have just killed a woman, and I am returning to prison.’
At 4:41 AM, personnel at Creams Cafe in Walthamstow dialled 999 to report discovering a man drenched in blood who claimed to have murdered his wife and child.
After his apprehension, March informed the authorities: ‘I committed the act.’ I murdered Alana Odysseos. I have murdered her, LOL.
While being placed into a police van, he requested to be incarcerated ‘where I belong,’ asserting that he was ‘scum’ and merited such punishment.
En route to Barking Police Station, Shaine March purportedly stated: ‘I pray she isn’t deceased.’ I hope the foetus in her womb is still viable. However, are you aware of this? However, I did advise her to proceed with the abortion…
While in handcuffs and followed by two officers, Shaine March struck a fellow detainee in the head, resulting in the loss of three teeth, as presented in court.
Mr Justice Murray ordered that Shaine March be detained in custody for sentencing on October 31.
The court was informed that the prosecution would request the judge to contemplate the imposition of a complete life order.
Alana’s family members attended the court proceedings during the trial.
On Friday, they observed March vociferously cursing in the dock before he returned to court in the afternoon to register his guilty plea, abruptly concluding the case on its seventh day.
The family expressed gratitude to the prosecution and the Metropolitan Police investigative team before departing the court.
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