Afghan boxer accused of murdering Scottish woman 'remains silent' before judge

Latest updates

The man accused of murdering a Scottish woman in Greece and stuffing her body into a suitcase remained silent during a court hearing on Thursday
Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, appeared before an investigative judge and was remanded in custody
Ahmadzai’s lawyer requested access to Elisabeth-Jane Ross’ medical records during the hearing
The Afghan-born boxer is charged with the killing of Elisabeth Jane Ross in Athens
Ms Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, was found dead inside an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on July 18
The 26-year-old has denied killing Ms Ross and claims he found her on the bathroom floor

A champion boxer accused of killing a Scottish woman and disposing of her body in a suitcase in Athens has “exercised his right to remain silent” during a hearing before a judge.

Sharif Ahmadzai arrived at the Court of First Instance in Athens at about 10.40am local time on Thursday, in the back of a grey Hyundai car with blacked-out windows.

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.

Ahmadzai’s lawyer, Christos Erdas, requested access to Elisabeth-Jane Ross’ medical records.

He left surrounded by police wearing balaclavas and was bundled into the car and driven away.

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

Ahmadzai is charged with intentional homicide, robbery and weapons offences. He denies killing Ms Ross and claims he found her on the bathroom floor.

He admitted to police to moving her body. CCTV appears to show him carrying a large suitcase, which police believe contained Ms Ross.

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.

Watch
What we know about boxer charged with murder of Scots woman in Athens?

Originally from Afghanistan, Ahmadzai lives in Athens with his American-born wife, 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.

UK & International

Boxer accused of killing Scottish missionary in Athens dreamed of coming to UK

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 Ahmadzai 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

Ahmadzai 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.”