Afghan boxer appears in court in connection with death of Scottish woman
Afghan Boxer Faces Court Over Scottish Aid Worker’s Death in Athens
Constantvpn.com – A 26-year-old Afghan boxer has appeared before a Greek court in connection with the death of a Scottish woman whose body was discovered inside a suitcase at an abandoned building in Athens. Sharif Ahmadzai attended a private hearing in the Greek capital, where he was informed of multiple charges including homicide with intent, robbery, and weapons offences.
The case has been deferred until Thursday, when Ahmadzai is expected to be formally charged. Under Scots law, homicide with intent carries the same weight as a murder charge, making this a serious development in the investigation.
The Discovery and Investigation
Elisabeth Jane Ross, known to family and friends as Lisa, was reported missing just days before her body was discovered on July 18. The 30-year-old from Edinburgh had been volunteering with a refugee support organization based in Athens since arriving in Greece on June 26. She had been staying in the Kertasini area of Piraeus until July 10, when she apparently moved to an apartment on Rethymnou Street in the Kypseli district.
Police officers with covered faces escorted Ahmadzai from the court building more than an hour after the hearing concluded. The suspect kept his head down as he walked from the courthouse back to a grey Hyundai i30 with blacked-out windows, the same vehicle that brought him to the proceedings.
The coroner’s initial examination could not determine a specific cause of death, but subsequent detailed analysis concluded that Ross died from what investigators described as an “obvious criminal act, likely asphyxiation.”
Ahmadzai’s Background and Connection to Ross
According to a video published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Ahmadzai left Afghanistan after being orphaned at age 15. He traveled to Greece through Iran and Turkey before settling in a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos. There, he met his American wife, converted to Christianity, and together they established the charity Love Every Nation Athens to assist other refugees.
The BBC understands that Ahmadzai currently lives in Greece with his wife and their child. Earlier this year, he won a Greek super lightweight boxing title, establishing himself in the local sporting community.
George Kalliakmanis, president of the Union of Police Officers of Southeast Attica, told investigators that it was “possible” Ross and Ahmadzai had crossed paths through their shared charity work. Police are currently examining whether Ahmadzai possessed a key to the apartment where Ross was staying.
Alleged Actions and Evidence
Investigators have verified video footage appearing to show Ahmadzai carrying a suitcase believed to contain Ross’s body. Additionally, a location sharing application used by Ahmadzai’s wife indicated that the suspect had been present at the Rethymnou Street property where Ross is thought to have died.
Kalliakmanis revealed that Ahmadzai admitted to moving the body but denied committing murder. The suspect claimed he discovered Ross already dead in the bathroom. However, police believe Ahmadzai took the victim’s bank card and mobile phone, then sent text messages to her family and friends to create the impression that she was still alive.
Police believe the suspect took the victim’s bank card and phone, and made sure to send text messages to her family and friends to make it seem like she was still alive.
Furthermore, investigators estimate that Ahmadzai used Ross’s bank card to make withdrawals totaling approximately €10,000. The union confirmed that Ahmadzai’s wife had no involvement in the alleged crime and possessed no prior knowledge of the incident.
Community Impact and Ongoing Inquiry
The case has drawn attention to the close-knit nature of Athens’s refugee support community. Both Ross and Ahmadzai were actively involved in helping displaced people, making their potential connection through charity work particularly significant to investigators.
As the formal charging process approaches, the Greek legal system will determine whether Ahmadzai faces trial for homicide with intent. The outcome of this case may have broader implications for how such incidents are handled within the international community working in Greece’s refugee assistance sector.
Additional reporting was provided by Daphne Toli in Athens, contributing to the comprehensive coverage of this developing story involving an Afghan boxer and a Scottish missionary whose lives intersected in unexpected and tragic circumstances.
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