Killer given whole life order as sister remembers “full of life” Alana Odysseos
A man who murdered his former partner in East London will now spend the rest of his life in prison, after judges increased his sentence to a whole life order.
Shaine March was originally jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years after killing 32-year-old Alana Odysseos in Walthamstow in July 2024.
However, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, where judges ruled the original sentence did not go far enough.
Alana was found with multiple stab wounds in the early hours of 22 July on Lynmouth Road, she named March as her attacker before she died at the scene.
The court heard the pair had been in a short but abusive relationship, during which March controlled her movements, damaged her belongings and had previously assaulted her.
Speaking after the ruling, Alana’s sister Jasmine Yates said the decision brought a sense of justice and relief to the family.
“It was a huge relief,” she said.
“Even though in 42 years’ time he would have been 89, there’s still that little niggle of fear… is he going to do it again? Is he going to hurt somebody else? So now that we know he’s got a whole life order, I feel like justice has actually been served properly now.”
She added: “We definitely feel like justice has been served.”
Jasmine also spoke movingly about her sister’s personality, describing her as someone who brought energy and joy wherever she went.
“She was a very, very big personality… you could hear her more before you could see her,” she said.
“Even in a place as big as Walthamstow, you knew when Alana was down the market.”
“She was just so full of life… she would say hello to absolutely anybody. Half the time I’d be on the phone with her and she’d just be talking to random people she knew in the street. It was always a lot of fun with Alana.”
The court also heard that March had a history of serious violence, including a previous murder conviction in 2000, for which he served a life sentence.
He was later recalled to prison in 2013 after assaulting a pregnant partner.
On the night before her death, Alana had messaged her sister expressing concerns about the relationship. Jasmine believes she was preparing to leave.
“I personally think that the night that he killed her… she was finally starting to see him for who he is,” she said. “She said to me, ‘I can’t do this.’”
Following the attack, March admitted stabbing Alana and told police he did not regret his actions.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said Alana’s life had been “tragically cut short in an act of appalling violence” and welcomed the court’s decision to impose a whole life order.
She added that it would ensure “this extremely dangerous offender” could never harm anyone again.
Jasmine also thanked the public for their support following her sister’s death, particularly those who helped the family raise funds and shared messages of sympathy.
“The community was amazing,” she said. “I just want to say thank you… it means a lot and I have been reading each one.”
Alana leaves behind her children and a family who say she will be remembered for her warmth, kindness and the joy she brought to others.