A man who murdered his pregnant girlfriend has declined to attend his sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey.
Shaine March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, stabbed Alana Odysseos, 32, 19 times at her Walthamstow home on 22 July 2024. Ms Odysseos was in the early stages of pregnancy with her third child at the time of the attack.
March, who had previously been convicted of murdering a 17-year-old boy in 2000, admitted to killing Ms Odysseos on the seventh day of his trial. His admission followed the withdrawal of support from defence experts for a diminished responsibility claim. Jurors were not informed during the trial of his earlier conviction.
On Friday, members of Ms Odysseos’s family attended the Old Bailey for sentencing by Mr Justice Murray. However, defence barrister Sandip Patel KC told the court that March had refused to leave his prison cell, stating to staff: “It’s only sentencing.”
Prosecutor Louise Oakley highlighted that March was legally required to attend the hearing. She explained that if he did not participate via videolink from prison, the court had the authority to compel his presence.
She added: “At the moment I do not have information to suggest he is unfit or unwell. He could be brought using reasonable force. It is important to the family he is present at the hearing to hear the effect he has had on that family.”
In response, Mr Justice Murray briefly adjourned the hearing to allow further inquiries to be made. He indicated that he was “reluctant” to grant March the option of attending the sentencing remotely by videolink.
The case has drawn attention due to the severity of the crime and March’s prior life sentence, raising concerns about public safety and the management of offenders released on licence.
March’s refusal to attend means that the judge may need to decide whether to enforce his presence or proceed without him, a step that is relatively unusual in high-profile sentencing hearings.
