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This is the first picture of a pregnant mother-of-two killed in a 3am knife attack at her east London flat – as her ex-partner was charged with her murder.
Alana Odysseos, 32, was found fatally wounded at her home in Walthamstow shortly after learning that she was to become a mum for the third time.
Her ex-partner Shaine March, 45, will appear in custody at Barkingside Magistrates Court today after detectives from Scotland Yard’s Specialist Crime Command charged him with murder early this morning.
Choking back tears, Alana’s sister Jasmine Yates told MailOnline how the attack has plunged their family into ‘a living nightmare’.
She said: ‘I didn’t want to believe it when I found out. I just collapsed. We keep thinking we are going to wake up and she’s going to be back with us again.
Alana Odysseos (pictured) was found fatally wounded at her home in Walthamstow on Monday, July 22
Alana’s sister Jasmine Yates (left) said the mother-of-two had found out she was pregnant shortly before she died
‘We were talking on WhatsApp and commenting on posts just a few hours before it all happened.
‘We were so close. We were normal sisters, we may have argued here and there but we were always there for each other when it mattered.
‘She was such a brilliant mother. She doted on her little girls, and completely changed her life for them.
‘She had just found out she was pregnant again. She was about four weeks in and was so excited.
‘I was talking to her in the daytime before she was killed and she was so excited, talking about baby names.
‘She was the best sister you could ask for. She was a firecracker. If you had a problem, she was the one that was there, ready to sort it out, ready to go to war.
‘She was just such a kind person who overcame so much in her life and she used it all to make her life better.’
A fundraising page has been set up to pay for a burial next to her gran Patricia in the family’s native Suffolk.
Alana (pictured) was a ‘brilliant mother’ who lived for her little girls, her sister Jasmine said
The family is hoping to use any remaining funds from the GoFundMe to set up a trust fund for Alana’s two daughters.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: ‘Shaine March will appear in custody at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 23 July charged with the murder of 32-year-old Alana Odysseos.
‘March was arrested after police were called to an address in Lynmouth Road, E17 at around 03.00hrs on Monday, 22 July following reports of a woman injured.
‘Alana was found suffering stab wounds and died at the scene. March and Alana were known to each other.
‘An investigation was launched led by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. March was charged in the early hours of Tuesday, 23 July.’
The GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for Alana’s funeral can be found here.
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