Shaine March Whole Life Order: Why He Will Never Leave Prison (2026)
Last reviewed: June 2026
Who is Shaine March?
Shaine March is a man with two murder convictions spanning more than two decades. In July 2000 he was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Andre Drummond, who was stabbed in the neck at a McDonald’s restaurant in Denmark Hill, south London, in January 2000. March served a life sentence for that murder and was released on life licence in 2018. Within a few years of his release he committed a second, even graver killing.
The murder of Alana Odysseos
In the early hours of 22 July 2024, March murdered his girlfriend Alana Odysseos, 32, at her home in Walthamstow, east London. She was pregnant with her third child at the time of her death. The court heard she was stabbed and slashed 23 times and died at the scene. Prosecutors described the killing as the culmination of sustained coercive and controlling behaviour and extreme domestic violence throughout the relationship.
From a 42-year minimum to a whole life order
March was convicted of murder and sentenced on 31 October 2025 at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years. The sentence was subsequently referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis that it was unduly lenient, particularly given March’s previous murder conviction. On 26 March 2026 the Court of Appeal agreed and imposed a whole life order, meaning March will never be released and will die in prison.
What is a whole life order?
A whole life order is the most severe sentence a court in England and Wales can pass. Unlike a standard life sentence, it carries no minimum term, so the prisoner can never apply to the Parole Board for release. It is reserved for the most exceptionally serious cases – for example, the murder of a child involving abduction, multiple murders with premeditation, or a murder committed by someone already convicted of murder. March’s case fell into the last category.
| Sentence type | Minimum term? | Possible release? |
|---|---|---|
| Determinate sentence | Fixed length | Yes, at the set point |
| Life with minimum term | Yes (e.g. 42 years) | Only if the Parole Board approves after the tariff |
| Whole life order (March’s sentence) | None | No – never |
The earned-progression reforms of the Sentencing Act 2026 do not apply here: they affect certain standard determinate sentences, not whole life orders, which remain outside any early-release framework.
- “He could still be released after 42 years.” No. The 42-year minimum was replaced by a whole life order, so there is no release point at all.
- “A whole life order is the same as a normal life sentence.” It is not. A normal life sentence has a minimum term after which release is possible; a whole life order does not.
- “Whole life orders are common.” They are rare and reserved for the most exceptional cases. Only a small number of prisoners in England and Wales are subject to one.
Frequently asked questions
Will Shaine March ever be released?
No. A whole life order means he will remain in prison for the rest of his life with no possibility of parole.
Who did Shaine March murder?
He murdered his pregnant girlfriend Alana Odysseos in 2024, and had earlier been convicted of murdering Andre Drummond in 2000.
Why was his sentence increased?
The Court of Appeal found the original 42-year minimum term unduly lenient and substituted a whole life order, reflecting the gravity of the offence and his previous murder conviction.
Where is Shaine March held?
The Prison Service does not routinely confirm the location of individual prisoners. He is held within the high-security estate, but we do not state a specific prison as fact.
Further reading and sources
For more on life sentences, whole life orders and how release works, see our guides on Prison Guide. This article draws on the GOV.UK and Crown Prosecution Service statements on the case.
