A convicted murderer has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years for stabbing his pregnant girlfriend to death when she refused to abort their baby. Shaine March, 47, knifed 32-year-old Alana Odysseos 19 times at her home in Walthamstow, east London, while out on licence from a previous murder conviction.
March later told police about the attack: 'I did it. I killed her, hahahaha.' He refused to appear in person at the Old Bailey, telling prison staff: 'It's only a sentencing.' The court heard that March had targeted Alana's reproductive organs during the sustained attack, with at least five wounds individually fatal.
Alana's mother, Karen Cronin, said: 'The person who has done this to my daughter is evil and a coward. I want him to die in prison. He should never be let out.' Her father, Alan Yates, described Alana as a 'happy-go-lucky' mother who became 'timid and vulnerable' after meeting March.
The judge, Mr Justice Murray, noted aggravating features including sustained violence and coercive control. He rejected calls for a whole-life order but said March, given his age, may never be released. March had previously been jailed for life at age 21 for stabbing a man to death in a McDonald's, and was later recalled for assaulting another partner.
Alana had just discovered she was pregnant and was overheard refusing March's request for an abortion, saying: 'I don't want to kill my baby.' March initially denied murder but changed his plea after a key defence expert withdrew support for a diminished responsibility claim.
