Neighbours 'heard rows for months' before killing

Alana Odysseos, 32, died after she was stabbed 19 times

The trial of a man accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend has been told how witnesses had heard arguments from her flat for months before the attack.

Alana Odysseos, 32, who grew up in Newmarket, Suffolk and lived in Walthamstow, east London, died there on 22 July 2024 after being stabbed 19 times.

At the Old Bailey, Shaine March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, has denied murdering the mother of two but admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

Lucas Burt, who lived next door, told police in a statement he had concerns about the arguments coming from Ms Odysseos' flat for months, but never phoned the police as he saw no signs of violence.

The court heard another neighbour, Carrie Pollock, also said she had heard arguing from the same building for months and that on the night of the killing, saw a woman crying outside while a man was aggressively shouting, swearing and "calling her names".

Ibrar Ahmed, who lived in the same block of flats as Ms Odysseos, was with two friends in the early hours of 22 July when they allegedly saw Ms Odysseos and Mr March arguing on the communal green outside her flat.

When Mr March went back into her flat, she followed him inside, the court heard.

Mr Ahmed and his friends immediately rang her doorbell, asking repeatedly if she needed any help, to make sure she was safe.

Ms Odysseos thanked them and insisted she was fine, according to their statements read out to the jury.

The argument then seemed to have calmed down but around 03:00 BST several people phoned 999 after hearing a woman screaming for help.

Francesa Bailey reported waking up and hearing: "Shaine stabbed me, he stabbed me! Help! Help!"

She went to her balcony where she could see Ms Odysseos on the communal green, clutching her right side.

Ms Bailey called for her son Bamidele Aduloju to help Ms Odysseos and the court heard how he tried applying towels and pressure to her wounds

In a recording of Mr Aduloju's 999 call played to the jury, Ms Odysseos could be heard repeatedly saying: "I can't breathe! Help me up!"

Ms Odysseos suffered five fatal injuries to her chest that would have each been fatal in their own right, according to forensic pathologist Dr Matt Cieka's conclusions.

The trial continues.