Afghan Boxer Accused in Scottish Aid Worker's Death Returns to Athens Court
Sharif Ahmadzai faces homicide and theft allegations after Elisabeth-Jane Ross's body was found in Kypseli.
Sarah Connor
A man accused of killing Scottish aid worker Elisabeth-Jane Ross is expected back in an Athens court today.
Police confirmed Ahmadzai admitted moving the body, yet he denies homicide allegations, despite facing a charge equivalent to murder in Scotland.
Ahmadzai also stands accused of stealing over €10,000 from Elisabeth Ross's bank accounts, using her bank cards.
Elisabeth Ross, 38, volunteered with a refugee support group in Athens; a homeless man discovered her body in a derelict building in the Kypseli area on July 18.
The Hellenic Police identified Ms. Ross using fingerprints; authorities now await tissue analysis results to determine the cause of death.
CCTV footage shows Ahmadzai arriving at Ms. Ross's flat on July 16 and later carrying a suitcase away from a derelict site.
Investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage recorded nearby, leading directly to Ahmadzai's detention for questioning.
Ahmadzai was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges after police found a replica Glock-style pistol and a military-style knife at his home.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides consular support; Police Scotland confirmed awareness of the death, liaising with Greek authorities and supporting the family in Scotland.
Separately, the Red Cross deleted a film about Sharif Ahmadzai, who stands accused of murdering Elisabeth-Jane Ross.
Ahmadzai, an Afghan boxer orphaned as a teenager, converted to Christianity, married Alaina Hall in 2023, and together they ran a ministry aiding refugees in Athens.