The wife of an Afghan boxer accused of killing a Scottish woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens has revealed how she tracked his location and received threatening messages, according to local media reports.
Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has been charged with homicide with intent over the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, who was discovered inside a suitcase by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on July 18.
His wife, Alaina Hall, who was friends with the victim, told police she became increasingly concerned after not hearing back from her friend in July, reports in Greece say.
Wife's account
Ms Hall said she first met Ms Ross in February this year through volunteer activities and church meetings. The last time she saw her was on July 12, and six days later she texted Ms Ross but never got a reply. She then asked Ahmadzai, who said they had last communicated on July 15 when she supposedly asked him to accompany her to deliver a bible.
Ms Hall reportedly told of how she woke up at midnight on July 15 with her husband not there. "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," she said, local media reports. She added that when she phoned him he claimed he was at a bar and had gone to the apartment only to use the toilet. Ahmadzai has admitted to going to Elisabeth's flat on July 15, which is where Ms Hall's phone records show he was.
When she learnt that Ms Ross was missing and then a body was found, she began to piece details together. "I was very afraid that the body that was found belonged to Lisa," she said. Ms Hall sent text messages to the victim and was surprised by the replies as they were not in her style "both in terms of her level of English and the use of emojis that she never used". She tried to contact her by phone, but without receiving a response.
"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," she told authorities, reports Proto Thema.
Threatening messages and charges
After the body was identified as belonging to her friend, Ms Hall said she became so afraid that she and her husband left their home and spent the night in different places. She also began to receive threatening messages with photos of herself and her baby, which police reportedly believe were sent by Ahmadzai in order to remove suspicion from him.
Ahmadzai was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges but is now facing a charge of homicide with intent, as well as allegations that he stole more than 10,000 euro (£8,500) from Ms Ross's bank accounts using her bank cards, police said.
Court proceedings
Greek officials said he admitted moving the body but denied the homicide allegations. Ahmadzai's lawyer Christos Erdos confirmed his client did not speak during Thursday's hearing, and that he did not submit a plea in relation to any of the three charges he faces.
The judge ordered Ahmadzai to be kept in pre-trial detention while further evidence is compiled, ahead of another hearing at a future date. The 26-year-old was then escorted back into the car by masked officers shortly before 2pm, before being driven off the premises.
Police previously said the suspect was detained for questioning after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage recorded nearby to where the body was discovered. Ms Ross is believed to have died a number of days before she was found, during which time temperatures reached 36C. Authorities were able to identify her using fingerprints.
Ms Ross, who is understood to be from Edinburgh, entered Greece on June 26 and was initially staying with friends in Piraeus, a port area of Athens.
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."
