Murdered woman's sister wants abuse law change

The sister of a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend, who already had murder and assault convictions, has called for urgent legal reform on how abusive history is disclosed.

Alana Odysseos, 32, from Newmarket in Suffolk, was in early pregnancy when she died outside her flat in Walthamstow, east London, after being stabbed 19 times on 22 July 2024.

Last month, her killer was given a rare whole life prison order after a Court of Appeal decided his initial jail sentence was too lenient.

Jasmine Yates has collected 37,000 signatures for her online petition calling for "Alana's Law", in an attempt to offer people greater protection from domestic abusers.

Yates, 28, described her sister as her "biggest supporter" when she herself was in a difficult relationship, encouraging her to leave and offering her a place to stay in London.

"When I lost her, a lightbulb came on in my head," Yates said.

"Remembering everything Alana said to me I feel is what gave me strength. That's another factor of why I want to do this with Alana's Law."

Currently under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as Clare's Law, there is a "right to ask", where a person, their friend or relative can request information about a potentially abusive partner, and a "right to know" whereby police can proactively disclose information.

Under Alana's Law however, Yates said the onus would be on the authorities to proactively inform individuals if they discovered they were in a relationship with someone who had a violent or abusive record.

Mandatory checks would also be required for offenders with a history of domestic violence or coercive control before they were allowed shared housing or contact with a child.

Yates warned domestic violence was "a pandemic of hate and cruelty to women and girls" and said she hoped a domestic violence register for high-risk offenders - both male and female - could prevent a repeat of what happened to her sister.

"If it flags up that they've been in a relationship, they have to go out and check on these people and actually tell them the history," she told the BBC.

"Alana always wanted to help people... If somebody didn't have enough money, she was the one paying for their shopping... if it's something that can help people, I think Alana really would be happy with that."

Shaine March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years in October for Odysseos' murder.

But he was given a whole life order after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General Ellie Reeves under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Yates welcomed the new sentence: "I'm so grateful that they did because now we don't have to worry that he's going to get out and do this to anyone else."

When he killed Odysseos, March was still on licence for murdering 17-year-old boy Andre Drummond in 2000.

He was released in January 2013, but he was recalled to prison later that year after stamping on the belly of another partner who was pregnant. He was released again in 2018

The Probation Service in London had arranged for safeguarding checks to be conducted with Odysseos, but no further action was taken when March told them the relationship had ended amicably.

Yates said that if the checks had been made, her sister's death "could have been prevented".

A Home Office spokesperson said a serious further offence review was under way, regarding Odysseos' murder.

"This was an appalling case, and our deepest sympathies remain with the family of Alana Odysseos," they said.

"Offenders who pose a risk to the public must be managed robustly, and we continue to strengthen the systems that protect victims and survivors of domestic abuse."

Louise Oakley KC had pushed for a whole life order when she prosecuted the case against March last year.

Only 74 prisoners were serving whole life tariffs at the end of 2025.

"It's the right sentence," Oakley said.

"The punishment now really does meet the crime... and knowing now that he will never be released means that ultimately the public are protected."

"There are cases... in your career that stick with you and that case will forever stick with me."

Oakley said she hoped the services involved would learn lessons from Odysseos' murder.

Shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan, who also lodged an appeal against March's sentence under the unduly lenient scheme, would like to see whole life orders used more widely.

"I think we have to look seriously at reforms that centre the victim's perspective on these issues, more than we do at the moment," Dr Mullan said.

Yates says she wishes "Alana was still here".

"As much as I love being around [my niece], it makes me feel sad because I'm like, 'your mum should be here'.

"She should be seeing all this."

Details of support for domestic abuse in the UK are available at BBC Action Line

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