The grieving family of a British woman who was discovered dead in a suitcase expressed their profound sorrow as the suspected perpetrator of her murder faced court proceedings.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, also known as Lisa, was found by a homeless individual in an abandoned structure in Athens on July 18, several days after she was reported missing. Engaged in charitable work as a Christian aid worker in Greece during the summer, Ross was well-regarded for her altruism and dedication to helping those in need.
Sharif Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old Afghan boxer, appeared in a court hearing where he faced charges of robbery, possession of illegal weapons, and intentional homicide. Despite remaining silent during the proceedings and not entering a plea, Ahmadzai refuted allegations of murder, claiming he discovered Ross deceased in the building.
According to reports, Ahmadzai crossed paths with Ross through his American wife, Alaina Hall, with whom he co-founded a charity called Love Every Nation. Hall suspected her husband’s involvement in the incident when she realized he was missing from their residence and subsequently traced his location to the complex where Ross had been residing.
Law enforcement officials detained Ahmadzai for questioning after reviewing nearby CCTV footage. Following the alleged killing of Ross, Ahmadzai purportedly sent messages from her phone to deceive her acquaintances before purchasing a new phone to impersonate an unnamed jihadist confessing to the crime.
Ross is believed to have passed away several days before her discovery, with authorities confirming her identity through fingerprint analysis. Floral tributes and a note saying “Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Rest in peace” in Greek have been left near the site where her body was found.
Both the Foreign Office and Police Scotland issued statements expressing condolences and confirming their involvement in providing support and liaising with authorities in Greece and the deceased woman’s family.