The family of a Scots woman murdered in Greece have spoken of their "deep pain" following her tragic death. Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, known as Lisa, was discovered by a homeless man in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on Saturday, July 18.
Family tribute to 'selfless' missionary
The missionary has been described by her loved ones as "selfless", with those closest to her adding that she "dedicated her life to helping others in need". Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, appeared before a court in the Greek capital facing suspicion of killing the aid worker, alongside weapons offences and robbery charges.
Lisa had travelled to Greece from Edinburgh on Friday, June 26 and had initially been staying with friends in Piraeus, a port district of Athens.
Her family said: "Lisa will always be remembered by us as kind, principled and selfless."
"Her integrity was absolute, and she dedicated her life to helping others in need. We are in deep pain, and we ask for time and privacy as we come to terms with our loss."
Suspect appears in court
On Thursday, Ahmadzai — a professional boxer from Afghanistan — attended the Court of First Instance in Athens, where he was held on charges of illegal weapons possession and homicide with intent. Ahmadzai's solicitor Christos Erdos confirmed his client remained silent throughout Thursday's hearing, reports the Daily Record.
He entered no plea in connection with any of the three charges he faces. It is understood he denies murder and claims he discovered Lisa already dead on the bathroom floor.
Investigation details
The court complex is situated on the city's Evelpidon Street, a short distance from the derelict building where the charity worker's body was discovered. Floral tributes have been laid on the ground beside the structure, with one card bearing the words "Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Rest in peace" written in Greek.
Police confirmed the suspect was taken in for questioning after investigators examined nearby surveillance camera footage. Following the alleged killing of Ms Ross, Ahmadzai is accused of sending a series of messages from her phone to her friends and family before switching the device off.
He is then alleged to have purchased another phone and texted her friends in Athens, including his wife, while impersonating an unnamed jihadist claiming he had killed the Scot because of her religion, Greek newspapers Proto Thema and Ta Nea reported.
The newspapers revealed that his wife, a US citizen named Alaina Hall, told police she had grown suspicious of her husband's involvement in the killing when she awoke to find him absent from their apartment and tracked his phone to the location where Ms Ross had been staying.
Lawyer's claims
Ahmadzai's lawyer has also claimed that his rights "have been violated". In a statement released to the media, Paraschis-Erdas and Associates said that the leak of "information and documents" amounted to the violation.
The firm claimed that there were "no injuries whatsoever" and that "there was a complete absence of any obvious cause of death".
The statement went on to say: "His approach toward the prosecutorial and investigating authorities was therefore not one of refusal to cooperate, but rather one of reservation, so that he could provide a full statement once the case file had been completed with the above essential documents."
"These documents had not been sought by the pre-trial investigating authorities. The sole objective is to establish the substantive truth, for the benefit of both sides."
Death and response
Ms Ross is thought to have passed away several days before she was discovered, during a period when temperatures soared to 36C. Authorities were able to confirm her identity through fingerprint analysis.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated: "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 commented: "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."
