A professional boxer accused of killing a British charity worker in Athens and hiding her body in a suitcase has been pictured for the first time.
Accusation and discovery
Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, is suspected of killing Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, from Edinburgh. Her remains were found in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on July 18, after a homeless man discovered her body inside a suitcase.
Ahmadzai is accused of using Ms Ross's bank card to withdraw thousands of pounds from her account in the hours following the killing on July 16, and of sending text messages from her phone to convince relatives she was still alive.
Background and relationship
In a newly released photograph, Ahmadzai, a father of one, is seen holding a belt from the Professional Boxing Federation of Greece, having won a super lightweight title in March. The Afghan national arrived on the Greek island of Lesvos in 2016 and married American Alaina Hall in 2023.
The couple reportedly met Ms Ross, a Christian volunteer, through their charity Love Every Nation Athens, which they set up to help homeless people and refugees in the city.
Investigation and arrest
Ms Hall raised concerns with police about Ahmadzai's behaviour in the days after Ms Ross's death, according to the Daily Mail and the Times. She allegedly told detectives he went missing on the evening of July 15, and that a location tracking app showed him at Ms Ross's flat, which the couple had a key to access.
Ahmadzai reportedly tried to give his wife €2,550 (£2,200) in cash and a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro, but she later handed the items to police, suspecting they were bought with her money. When officers raided his home on August 1, they found a black metal replica pistol and a black military-style knife, local media said.
Charges and police statement
During questioning, Ahmadzai reportedly told detectives Ms Ross was already dead when he found her, claiming he only put her in a suitcase to steal her money without drawing suspicion. He has been arrested and charged with intentional homicide, robbery and weapons offences.
A statement from Hellenic Police said: "A 26-year-old foreigner was identified in the case and arrested for violating the weapons law. Cooperation was carried out with police authorities of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Scotland."
