Sharif Ahmadzai, the Afghan migrant accused of killing Scots woman Elisabeth-Jane Ross, reportedly texted his wife posing as an unnamed jihadist following her death. Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, was found dead inside a suitcase in a derelict building in Athens on July 18. Ahmadzai, 26, a professional boxer, has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder.
Alleged cover-up attempts
Greek outlet Proto Thema alleges Ahmadzai bought and used a burner phone to send messages to Ross's friends, his wife Alaina Hall, and even himself, claiming to be a jihadist who killed Ross because of her Christian faith. He is also accused of texting Ross's friends and family using her own phone before switching it off.
Background and motive
Ahmadzai had planned to leave Greece for the UK. A video from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies tells his story: his father was killed while commanding in the national army, and his mother and siblings died in a suicide bombing. He was smuggled into Greece via Iran and Turkey and housed at a migrant camp on Lesbos. In the video, he says: "I have an aunt in the United Kingdom. She told me, 'I can take full responsibility of you, if someone helps you get to the UK'. But, if I can't get there, I don't know what will happen to me."
Ahmadzai is married to US citizen Alaina Hall, 28, and converted to Christianity. The couple ran a refugee ministry in Athens called Love Every Nation Athens and had a child together. They knew Ross through their missionary work. Police confirmed they had a key to the flat where Ross was staying, as it was owned by their charity. Ahmadzai told cops he found Ross already dead in her bathroom.
Investigation and arrest
Police launched a probe after Hall reported her husband's suspicious behaviour on July 30. She woke up on the night of July 15 and noticed he wasn't home; his shared location showed him at Ross's apartment. He allegedly admitted using her bank cards to withdraw cash and used her phone to send messages pretending to be her.
Hall grew more suspicious after Ross's body was found and left with their baby to stay in a hotel. Ahmadzai gave her €2,550 and a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro, which she handed to police believing they were bought with Ross's money. Detectives raided the family home on August 1 and found a black metal replica Glock-style pistol and a black military-style knife.
Online posts and prior statements
CCTV footage showed Ahmadzai dragging the suitcase containing Ross's body through Athens streets. He is due in court tomorrow. In the weeks before the incident, he posted hate-filled messages about Christian aid workers online. He wrote a memoir called From Hell to Home and shared a page with a chapter titled "corrupt NGOs". In a May Facebook post, he wrote: "Shame on corruption dressed like charity. Shame on business wearing the name of Christ."
Ross had visited Greece regularly over the past seven years, volunteering with NGOs helping refugees and homeless people. She arrived in Athens on June 26; the last confirmed sighting was at 9.41pm on July 15, when she called a close friend.
