Man charged in Greece over murder of British aid worker Elizabeth Jane Ross

Greek police have charged a 26-year-old man with the murder of British aid worker Elizabeth Jane Ross, known as Lisa, whose body was found inside a suitcase in a derelict building in Athens. Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, had been volunteering with refugee support groups in Greece. She arrived in Athens at the end of June and was staying with friends in the city. Her body was discovered on 18 July in the Kipseli district, after a homeless man reportedly found the suitcase in an abandoned building. Police identified her through Interpol fingerprint data.

The suspect, Sharif Ahmadzai, is an Afghan national who arrived in Greece as a refugee in 2016. He is a champion boxer and runs a refugee charity with his American wife. Greek police said they traced him using CCTV footage, which appears to show him wheeling a suitcase through the streets of Athens. Ahmadzai was arrested on suspicion of homicide with intent, robbery, and weapons offences. He admitted moving Ross's body but denied killing her, claiming he found her already dead in the bathroom of the flat where she was staying.

Ahmadzai appeared in court in Athens on Wednesday, where he faced charges of homicide with intent, robbery, and weapons offences. He made no comment during the hearing, and the case was deferred until the next day. On Thursday, he was formally charged and remanded in custody. His lawyer said he had exercised his right to remain silent pending forensic and toxicology examinations. Police believe Ross died between five and seven days before her body was found. They also said that her bank cards were used after her death, and that messages were sent from her phone to relatives and friends claiming she was fine.

The suspect's wife, Elena Hall, reportedly provided key information that led to his arrest. Court documents claim she told police that her husband had been at Ross's apartment on the night of 15 July, after she checked his location on her phone. She also told investigators that Ross's messages were not in her style or level of English. Police have seized a replica pistol and a knife from Ahmadzai's home.

Ross's family paid tribute to her, describing her as "kind, principled and selfless" and saying she dedicated her life to helping others. A friend who worked with her at a Christian aid charity said she would always give to others, even to the point of forgetting about herself. The exact cause of death is still awaiting toxicology results, and the investigation continues. Ahmadzai's trial could be up to 18 months away.