**Murderer Jailed for Life After Stabbing Pregnant Girlfriend**

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend. Shaine March, 47, stabbed Alana Odysseos, 32, 19 times at her home in Walthamstow, east London, after she refused to terminate her pregnancy.

March, who was on licence at the time of the attack, later confessed to police, saying, "I did it. I killed her, hahahaha." He did not attend his sentencing at the Old Bailey, dismissing it as "only a sentencing".

During the proceedings, prosecutor Louise Oakley highlighted the importance of March's presence for Alana's family, stating, "It is important to the family he is present at the hearing to hear the effect he has had on that family." The judge, Mr Justice Murray, expressed reluctance to allow March to attend via videolink and adjourned the hearing for further inquiries.

March had a history of violence, having previously been jailed for life at 21 for fatally stabbing Andre Dummond in a McDonald’s restaurant in 2000. He was released on licence in early 2013 but was recalled to prison later that year after assaulting another partner. He was released again in February 2018.

Alana had recently discovered she was expecting a child with March, who was described as violent and controlling. Friends and family had urged her to leave him, but they remained together. On the night of the attack, Alana was overheard refusing March's demand for an abortion, stating, "I don't want to kill my baby."

Witnesses reported hearing Alana shouting for help after the stabbing. She was found outside her home, bleeding from multiple wounds, and was heard saying, "Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me, help, help." Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries.

The court heard that Alana had been in a relationship with March for approximately four months before her death. She had experienced significant personal loss, having lost two previous partners who were the fathers of her children. Friends noted that she had become increasingly isolated during her relationship with March, who controlled her movements and behaviour.

Alana's sister had urged her to leave March after she revealed his abusive behaviour, including accusations of infidelity and controlling her phone contacts. Tragically, Alana was still in contact with March on the night of the fatal attack, which occurred in the early hours of July 22 last year.