Missionary pays tribute to 'passionate and joyful' Scottish charity worker killed in Athens

A missionary has paid tribute to a “passionate and joyful” charity worker who was found dead inside a suitcase in Athens last month.

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.

She had arrived in Greece after travelling from Edinburgh on June 26.

Sharif Ahmadzai, a champion boxer originally from Afghanistan, has been charged with intentional homicide, robbery and weapons offences. He denies killing Ms Ross and claims he found her on the bathroom floor.

French woman Magali Tassone met Ms Ross whilst carrying out charity work in Switzerland in 2013.

She described the Edinburgh-born woman as a “very joyful person” who was always “positive”.

Mrs Tassone told STV News: “She was passionate.

Ms Ross and Mrs Tassone met in Switzerland STV News

“She loved studying, she loved people, she loved helping others.

“This is why she was a missionary, and she was working with NGOs. Her life is about helping people and loving them the best she can.

“I got on with her easily, and I think everybody was the same.”

Mrs Tassone says she has been “going through the pain ” after finding out her friend had died.

“It is really painful because nobody could expect that,” the charity worker added.

“She posted something on Facebook in late July, where she shared her desire to go to Türkiye, and I really thought it was her.

“So I commented that ‘I was praying for you Lisa’. Opening my Facebook a few days later and seeing her face and what was going on.

“I have been thinking about her family, how all of it happened.”

Family in ‘deep pain’

Ms Ross’ family has described her as a “selfless” Scottish missionary.

They said that she “dedicated her life to helping others in need”.

“Lisa will always be remembered by us as kind, principled and selfless,” they said.

“Her integrity was absolute, and she dedicated her life to helping others in need. We are in deep pain, and we ask for time and privacy as we come to terms with our loss.”

Super lightweight Greek boxing champion accused of murder

Greek detectives believe that Ahmadzai, who is the reigning super lightweight Greek boxing champion, killed Ms Ross for financial gain.

The 26-year-old admitted to moving her body in an interview with police. CCTV appears to show him carrying a large suitcase, which police believe contained Ms Ross.

STV News understands that his American-born wife, Alaina Hall, provided testimony that Ahmadzai confessed to the killing.

It is alleged that the amateur cage fighter, who also runs a charity with his partner, sent a series of messages from her phone to her friends and family before switching off the device.

Tributes have been laid in memory of Lisa STV News

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.”

Accused rights ‘violated’ says Lawyer

On Thursday, Ahmadzai appeared at the Court of First Instance in the Greek capital.

During the brief hearing before an investigating judge, the 26-year-old made no plea. The judge ruled that he should be remanded in custody.

In a statement released to the media by Paraschis-Erdas and Associates, the firm said that Ahmadzai’s “rights have been violated” due to the leak of “information and documents”.

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

Greek authorities arrested Ahmadzai, originally from Afghanistan, and charged him with intentional homicide, robbery and weapons offences
STV News

However, the boxer’s lawyers say that following an examination of her body, “no injuries whatsoever were found, and there was a complete absence of any obvious cause of death”.

The defence counsel added that their client remained silent during his recent court appearance as the team awaits the results of the toxicology and medical reports.

The statement continued: “His approach toward the prosecutorial and investigating authorities was therefore not one of refusal to cooperate, but rather one of reservation, so that he could provide a full statement once the case file had been completed with the above essential documents.

“These documents had not been sought by the pre-trial investigating authorities. The sole objective is to establish the substantive truth, for the benefit of both sides.”