Afghan Boxer Appears in Court Over Killing of British Aid Worker in Athens

A 26-year-old Afghan professional boxer appeared before a Greek court on Wednesday after being charged in connection with the death of a British aid worker whose body was discovered inside a suitcase at an abandoned construction site in central Athens, in a case that has shocked Greece and the United Kingdom.

The victim, Elisabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish psychotherapist and volunteer aid worker, was reported missing on July 15 after she failed to return to a friend’s home in the port city of Piraeus. Three days later, her decomposed body, wrapped in black fabric and stuffed inside a green suitcase, was found by a passerby in the Kypseli district of Athens, close to where the suspect lived.

Greek police arrested the suspect, identified by several media outlets as Sharif Ahmadzai, following an investigation that included CCTV footage, forensic analysis and financial records. Authorities say the Afghan national, who had been granted asylum in Greece and was reportedly involved in volunteer work with the victim, now faces charges including murder, robbery and illegal weapons possession.

Investigators allege that after Ross died, the suspect used her mobile phone to send messages to friends and relatives in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime. Police also claim he withdrew more than €10,000 from her bank accounts using her debit cards after her disappearance. Surveillance footage is said to show a man believed to be the suspect transporting a large suitcase through the streets of Athens around the time investigators believe the body was moved.

During questioning, the suspect denied killing Ross but admitted moving her body. According to police officials, he claimed he discovered her dead in the bathroom of an apartment, panicked and placed the body in a suitcase before abandoning it. Investigators, however, have challenged that account as they continue to examine forensic and digital evidence.

A post-mortem examination was unable to determine the exact cause of death because of the advanced state of decomposition, although forensic experts have not ruled out death by asphyxiation. Additional laboratory tests are expected to provide further clarity as the investigation progresses.

Ross had travelled to Greece in late June to continue her humanitarian work with Christian and refugee support organisations. She initially stayed with friends before moving into an apartment managed by a non-governmental organisation. Police said both the suspect and his American wife had access to the property where Ross had been staying.

The case has attracted widespread attention in Greece and Britain, with investigators working alongside international agencies to piece together the final days of Ross’s life. The suspect’s court appearance marks the beginning of formal judicial proceedings, while prosecutors continue gathering evidence that could determine whether additional charges or amendments to the case will follow.