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Afghan boxer Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has arrived at a Greek court accused of murdering Scottish woman 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
- STV News understands a coroner has determined the most likely cause of death was suffocation
- Greek police say Ahmadzai admitted transporting Ross’s body in a suitcase but denies killing her
- Investigators allege CCTV shows the suspect moving the suitcase and that he used Ross’s bank cards to withdraw money after her death
- Detectives believe the crime was financially motivated and say there is no evidence of a religious motive
A champion boxer accused of killing a Scottish woman and disposing of her body in a suitcase in Athens is appearing before a Greek court.
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.
STV News understands a coroner has determined that the Edinburgh-born victim’s most likely cause of death was suffocation.
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What we know about boxer charged with murder of Scots woman in Athens?
Sharif Ahmadzai arrived at court for a hearing on Wednesday morning in an unmarked grey Hyundai i30 car, alongside a number of police officers.
The court is located on the city’s Evelpidon Street, just a few minutes’ walk from where the charity worker’s body was found.
He will appear before an investigative judge, where he will have the opportunity to give his account of events.
SuppliedOriginally from Afghanistan, the 26-year-old lives in the Greek city with his American-born , 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.
InstagramSTV 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.
She was staying with friends in the Kertasini area of Piraeus until July 10 and then moved to an apartment on Rethymnou Street.
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 Ahmadazi 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.
FacebookAhmadazi 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.”
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