Alleged motive: victim tried to convert his partner to Christianity<\/strong><\/p>\n An Afghan professional boxer who ran a refugee charity in Athens has been charged with the murder of a Scottish woman whose body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in an abandoned building.<\/p>\n Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, faces charges of intentional homicide, robbery and weapons offences over the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, from Edinburgh. He is due to appear before magistrates in Athens.<\/p>\n Ross\u2019s remains were found on the afternoon of 18 July inside a large travel suitcase, wrapped in black fabric and in an advanced state of decomposition, in a derelict complex in the Kypseli district. No documents or personal belongings were with the body. Greek forensic teams recovered usable fingerprints and, working with Interpol, identified her as Elisabeth Jane Ross, daughter of a prominent Scottish lawyer who has advised the British Prime Minister. She had a long record of voluntary work with churches and aid groups in the UK, Greece and elsewhere.<\/p>\n Ross arrived in Greece from Edinburgh on 29 June 2026. After staying in short-term accommodation and with friends, she moved on 2 July into a ground-floor flat at 9 Rethymnou Street in Exarchia. The apartment, linked to a religious organisation or NGO, was also accessible to Ahmadzai, who held keys. A British friend of Ross\u2019s, whose partner was Ahmadzai, visited the property. The couple lived in Keratsini.<\/p>\n Ross\u2019s last confirmed contact with anyone in her circle was on the evening of 15 July. After that night no one saw her again, yet messages continued to be sent from her phone. Relatives and friends noticed the writing style had changed and became increasingly suspicious that someone else was using the device. At the same time, successive cash withdrawals were made from her bank account, reaching a total of approximately \u20ac10,000\u2013\u20ac12,000.<\/p>\n CCTV footage and phone data proved decisive. On the night of 16 July, Ahmadzai was filmed leaving the Exarchia flat carrying a large suitcase. His route ended at the abandoned building where the body was later found. Minutes later he left the area carrying only a backpack.<\/p>\n Ahmadzai\u2019s partner, US-born Alaina Hall, provided key evidence. Location-sharing data showed him at Ross\u2019s apartment overnight on 15\u201316 July. After the victim\u2019s identity became public she suspected his involvement, left the family home with their child and handed police a mobile phone and \u20ac2,550 in cash she believed may have belonged to Ross. She also told officers that Ahmadzai had confessed to her that he killed the Scottish woman because he believed she was trying to convert her to Christianity.<\/p>\n Questioned by the Organised Crime Division on 30 July, Ahmadzai denied murder. He claimed he found Ross already dead in the bathroom, then placed her body in the suitcase and dumped it \u201cso he wouldn\u2019t get involved.\u201d He admitted using her phone to send messages impersonating her and withdrawing money with her bank cards. A search of his home recovered a metal Glock-style replica pistol and a military-style knife.<\/p>\n Greek reports say Ahmadzai had fought two professional bouts in Greece in the super-lightweight division and won the Greek title in that weight class in March 2023. He arrived on Lesvos as a migrant in 2016 and later established a refugee ministry, Love Every Nation Athens, with his wife.<\/p>\n Peter Anderson, lead pastor of City on a Hill church in Edinburgh, where Ross had been a member for 20 years, said: \u201cWe have lost a precious church member Lisa. She was a member of our church for 20 years, and a very precious, precious girl. It was a real tragic loss.\u201d He added that she had a strong passion for missionary work.<\/p>\n An autopsy and toxicology results are still awaited. Initial indications pointed to asphyxiation.<\/p>\n Reporting compiled from Greek media including<\/em>. <\/p>\n![\"Suitcase](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1000230662.webp)
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