Double Murderer Receives Whole Life Sentence as Court Overturns “Unduly Lenient” Sentence
A man who brutally murdered his pregnant girlfriend, Alana Odysseos, while on licence for a previous killing, has been handed a whole life order, meaning he will never be released from prison. The Court of Appeal ruled that the initial sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years was “unduly lenient.”
Shaine March, 47, stabbed Ms. Odysseos, 32, a staggering 23 times at her home in Walthamstow, east London, on July 22, 2024. Ms. Odysseos was in the early stages of pregnancy with her third child when the attack occurred, following an argument about abortion.
March’s history of extreme violence was a key factor in the appeal. He was previously convicted of murder at the age of 21 for fatally stabbing 17-year-old Andre Drummond in the neck at a McDonald’s restaurant in south London in January 2000. After being released on a life licence in early 2013, he was recalled to prison later that year for assaulting another pregnant girlfriend. He was released again in February 2018.
March pleaded guilty to the murder of Ms. Odysseos and was initially sentenced in October of the previous year. However, the severity of his past crimes and the circumstances of Ms. Odysseos’ murder prompted a referral to the Court of Appeal, where prosecutors argued for a whole life order.
Court of Appeal’s Decision: A Reassessment of Sentence
In a decisive ruling, Lord Justice Edis, alongside Mr. Justice Cavanagh and Judge Alice Robinson, stated that the original sentence was indeed “unduly lenient.” The judges quashed the initial sentence and the minimum term order, replacing it with a whole life order.
Lord Justice Edis clarified that the sentencing judge, Mr. Justice Murray, had made an error in his assessment. The aggravating factors in the case were deemed “far more potent” than any mitigating circumstances. Crucially, the court highlighted two significant aggravating factors:
- The death of the unborn child: The loss of Ms. Odysseos’s unborn baby was considered a serious aggravating factor.
- Witnessed by a child: The attack was witnessed by one of Ms. Odysseos’s other children, adding a profound layer of trauma to the crime.
Furthermore, the court determined that March’s claimed brain injury was not a “major cause” of his violent behaviour. The defence’s argument of a lack of premeditation was also qualified, indicating it did not significantly reduce the culpability of his actions.
Solicitor General’s Statement: Justice for Alana Odysseos
Following the appeal ruling, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves issued a statement emphasizing the tragic loss of Alana Odysseos and the severity of the perpetrator’s actions.
“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,” Ms. Reeves stated.
She further underscored the societal imperative to combat violence against women and girls. “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.”
Ms. Reeves concluded by extending her deepest sympathies to Ms. Odysseos’s daughters and all who cared for her.
The Brutal Attack and March’s Confession
The trial at the Old Bailey heard harrowing details of the final hours of Alana Odysseos’s life. March and Ms. Odysseos had been in a relationship for approximately four months, during which time March exhibited controlling behaviour, isolating her from her family and friends.
The argument that preceded the murder centered on Ms. Odysseos’s pregnancy. Hours before the attack, she was heard saying, “I don’t want to kill my baby.”
Witnesses reported seeing Ms. Odysseos outside her home shortly after the attack, clutching her side and bleeding profusely from multiple stab wounds. She identified March as her attacker, shouting, “Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me. Help, help.” Despite the efforts of emergency services, Ms. Odysseos succumbed to her injuries.
After fleeing the scene, March disposed of his mobile phone in a drain before recording a chilling voice note: “Mum, I just killed a woman, and I’m going back to jail.”
When informed of his whole life sentence via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, March addressed Ms. Odysseos’s family present in court, offering a brief apology: “I just want to say that I am sorry.”
Arguments Presented in Court
During the appeal, prosecutors, represented by Tom Little KC, argued that a whole life order was the “just punishment” given the “constellation of aggravating features” in the case. Mr. Little contended that the case should have been categorized as a whole life order case from the outset.
Conversely, Sandip Patel KC, representing March, argued that the initial sentence was reached in a “fair and balanced manner” and that March’s traumatic brain injury had not been given sufficient consideration by the sentencing judge.
However, the Court of Appeal’s decision firmly established that the aggravating factors significantly outweighed any mitigating elements, leading to the imposition of the most severe sentence available.
