An Afghan boxing champion accused of murdering a British woman was exposed after his own wife became suspicious of his behaviour, court reports reveal. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, appeared in court in Athens today charged with homicide over the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38. The Scottish woman's body was found stuffed inside a suitcase by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Greek capital on July 18.
Wife's Suspicion Unravels Case
Ahmadzai's wife, Alaina Hall, grew alarmed when texts to her friend Elisabeth went unanswered and her husband vanished in the middle of the night. Ms Hall, who met Elisabeth through church and volunteer groups, checked his phone location on July 15 and found him at an apartment on Rethymno Street. When she phoned, he claimed he was at a bar and had only used the apartment's toilet.
After learning Ms Ross was missing and a body had been found, Ms Hall began piecing together details. She sent texts to the victim and noticed replies were not in her style, 'both in terms of her level of English and the use of emojis that she never used'. She told authorities: '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.'
Threats and Charges
After the body was identified as her friend, Ms Hall became so afraid that she and her husband left home and spent nights elsewhere. She received threatening messages with photos of herself and her baby, which police believe Ahmadzai sent to deflect suspicion. Ahmadzai faces charges of homicide with intent and stealing more than £8,500 from Ms Ross's bank accounts. He admitted moving the body but denied homicide, his lawyer confirmed.
The judge ordered pre-trial detention while evidence is compiled. Police had detained Ahmadzai after reviewing surveillance footage near where the body was found. Ms Ross, from Edinburgh, entered Greece on June 26 and had been 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.'
