Afghan boxer due in court over murder of Scots woman in Athens

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Afghan boxer Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, appeared at a Greek court accused of murdering Scottish woman Elisabeth Jane Ross in Athens
Ahmadzai appeared before an investigative judge, was given a court-appointed lawyer and will return to court on Thursday
Ms Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, was found dead inside an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on July 18
STV News understands a coroner has determined the most likely cause of death was suffocation
Greek police say Ahmadzai admitted transporting Ross’s body in a suitcase but denies killing her
Investigators allege CCTV shows the suspect moving the suitcase and that he used Ross’s bank cards to withdraw money after her death
Detectives believe the crime was financially motivated and say there is no evidence of a religious motive

A champion boxer accused of killing a Scottish woman and disposing of her body in a suitcase in Athens has appeared at court in Greece.

Sharif Ahmadzai arrived for a hearing on Wednesday morning in an unmarked grey Hyundai i30 car, alongside a number of police officers.

He left in the same car about an hour later.

The court is located on the city’s Evelpidon Street, just a few minutes’ walk from where Elisabeth Jane Ross’ body was found.

It is understood he was assigned a court-appointed lawyer during the hearing, which took place in private.

The 26-year-old is expected to appear at court again on Thursday.

Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, was found dead stuffed into a suitcase in Athens. Facebook

Ms Ross, also known as Lisa, was found dead by a homeless man in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on Saturday, July 18.

STV News understands a coroner has determined that the Edinburgh-born charity worker’s most likely cause of death was suffocation.

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Originally from Afghanistan, Ahmadzai lives in Athens with his American-born , Alaina Hall, and their young child.

Following an investigation, Ahmadzai was identified and arrested.

Police said he admitted transporting Ms Ross’ body in the suitcase but denied murder.

CCTV footage appears to show a man carrying a suitcase with a murdered Scottish woman inside. Supplied

STV News understands that his wife provided testimony that Ahmadzai confessed to the killing.

Ms Ross arrived in Greece after travelling from Edinburgh on June 26.

Sharif Ahmadzai and his wife Alaina Hall. Instagram

She was staying with friends in the Kertasini area of Piraeus until July 10 and then moved to an apartment on Rethymnou Street.

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Elisabeth Jane Ross, also known as Lisa, was found dead by a homeless man in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital

The Edinburgh woman spoke to a friend on the phone on July 15. Detectives believe that texts received by loved ones after this point were not written by Ms Ross.

CCTV footage obtained by police appears to show Ahmadazi transporting the body inside a suitcase.

Investigations by authorities found that the suspect used Ms Ross’s bank cards to withdraw money following her death.

Elisabeth Jane Ross, also known as Lisa, was found dead by a homeless man in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on Saturday, July 18. Facebook

Ahmadazi was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges, and is facing a murder charge as well as allegations that he stole more than 10,000 euro from the victim’s bank accounts using her bank cards, police said.

After allegedly murdering Ms Ross, Ahmadzai is accused of sending a series of messages from her phone to her friends and family before switching off the device.

He is then said to have bought another phone and texted her friends in Athens, including his wife, impersonating an unnamed jihadist saying he had killed the Scot because of her religion.

Investigators believe the crime was carried out for financial reasons, and there was no religious motive.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said earlier: “Our thoughts are with Elisabeth’s family during this difficult time.

“We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson previously said: “We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.

“Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland.”