Sharif Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old Afghan refugee and former boxer, has been charged with homicide with intent in connection with the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish missionary from Edinburgh. Her body was discovered in a suitcase in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of central Athens on July 18. Ahmadzai appeared in court for the first time on Thursday, where he did not enter a plea.
Background and alleged changes
Ahmadzai, who is married to American Alaina Hall, reportedly converted from Islam to Christianity after fleeing Afghanistan in 2016. The couple met at an NGO and later established a refugee charity, through which they met Elisabeth, known as Lisa. However, in the months before her death, sources claim Ahmadzai had been frequenting bars “as if he was a single man” and had grown distant from his faith.
Alaina, who is understood to have provided key evidence, confided in two evangelical Christians from the southern US about her husband's changed behavior. They told the Daily Mail: “There were problems going on in the marriage. She felt that he had started questioning his commitment to Christianity. Alaina was raised in a very strong Christian home and Sharif’s childhood was obviously different coming from a strict Muslim country. He became more aloof and seemed more focused on boxing and his friends than doing ‘God’s work’, as Alaina put it. I think he went more to the boxing gym than to church and Alaina became worried about this.”
Alleged timeline and suspicions
Alaina told investigators she first met Lisa in February through volunteer work and church meetings, and they quickly became friends. She last saw Lisa on July 12, and when she didn't reply to a text six days later, she asked her husband if he had heard from her. Ahmadzai claimed they last spoke on July 15, when Lisa allegedly asked him to accompany her while delivering a Bible. However, Alaina became suspicious after waking shortly after midnight on July 15 to find her husband not at home. She told police: "I checked his location on my cell phone. I saw that he was inside the apartment on Rethymno Street. I was surprised because there was no particular reason for him to be there at that time." When she phoned him, he allegedly said he was at a bar and had only gone to the apartment to use the toilet. Ahmadzai admitted visiting Lisa's flat on July 15, the same location where his wife's phone records placed him.
Alaina also grew worried after receiving replies to texts she had sent to Lisa, noting they did not sound like her and included English and emojis she would never normally use. She told investigators, according to Proto Thema: "All of this made me feel strange. Especially combining the dates, the messages and my husband's behaviour. I have various thoughts that make me feel uncomfortable."
Arrest and charges
Ahmadzai was initially arrested on weapons offences before being charged with homicide with intent. He also faces allegations of stealing more than €10,000 (around £8,500) from Lisa's bank accounts using her bank cards. Greek authorities say he has admitted moving Lisa's body but denies killing her. His lawyer, Christos Erdos, confirmed his client did not answer questions during Thursday's hearing and entered no plea to the three charges.
Following the hearing, the judge ordered Ahmadzai to remain in pre-trial detention while prosecutors gather evidence. He was later escorted from court by masked police officers. Investigators said Ahmadzai became a suspect after examining CCTV footage near where the body was found. Police believe Lisa died several days before she was found, during a period when temperatures in Athens reached 36C. She was formally identified using fingerprint evidence. Lisa had travelled to Greece on June 26 and was initially staying with friends in Piraeus.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “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 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.”
