The family of a Scottish woman murdered in Greece have spoken of their "deep pain" following her 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.
Missionary described as 'selfless'
The missionary has been described by her loved ones as "selfless", with relatives adding 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."
Court appearance and charges
On Thursday, Ahmadzai — a professional boxer from Afghanistan — appeared at the Court of First Instance in Athens, where he was held on illegal weapons possession charges and a charge of homicide with intent. Ahmadzai's lawyer Christos Erdos confirmed his client did not speak during Thursday's hearing, reports the Daily Record. He entered no plea in relation to any of the three charges he faces. It is understood he denies murder and maintains he discovered Lisa already dead on the bathroom floor.
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.
Investigation details
Police stated that 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 mobile phone to her friends and family before switching off the device. 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 on account of her religion, Greek newspapers Proto Thema and Ta Nea reported.
The newspapers revealed that his wife, a US citizen named Alaina Hall, informed police she suspected her husband's involvement in the killing after waking to find he was absent from their apartment and tracking his phone to the location where Ms Ross had been staying.
Lawyer's statement
Ahmadzai's lawyer has also claimed that his "have been violated". In a statement issued to the media, Paraschis-Erdas and Associates stated that the leaking of "information and documents" constituted the violation. The firm maintained that there were "no injuries whatsoever" and that "there was a complete absence of any obvious cause of death". The statement went on: "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 understood to have died several days prior to being discovered, during which period temperatures soared to 36C. Authorities were able to confirm her identity through fingerprints. 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 spokesman confirmed: "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."
