An Afghan man accused of killing British Christian volunteer Elisabeth Jane Ross in Athens has claimed an elderly man persuaded him to remove her body and subsequently blackmailed him into stealing her money. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, appeared in court Wednesday and presented his account of events surrounding Ross's death on July 15.
Ahmadzai told police in a statement Saturday that he did not kill Ross, stating he found her already deceased in her apartment. He claims he panicked and, encountering an elderly man near a bus stop, sought advice on what to do. According to Ahmadzai's statement, this older man, who identified himself as having connections to hospitals, advised him to remove the body from the house to avoid trouble.
He alleges he returned to the apartment the following day and placed Ross's body in a black suitcase before putting it in the trunk of a car. Ahmadzai stated he drove to an abandoned building where he again met the older man, identified as potentially named Nikos, who allegedly took the suitcase to dispose of it. Ahmadzai also admitted to taking Ross's phone and bank cards, using them to withdraw money which he gave to the older man, who he claims was blackmailing him by threatening to report him to the police.
Ahmadzai has been formally charged by Greek prosecutors with intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses. He is expected to be remanded in custody and face trial within the next 18 months.
Ross, 38, originally from Edinburgh, had been a volunteer in Greece for seven years, assisting refugees and other vulnerable groups. She had arrived in Athens on June 26 and was volunteering with a Christian-based NGO working with refugees. Police sources indicated that Ross and Ahmadzai knew each other through their volunteer work. Ahmadzai had also converted to Christianity and married a U.S.-born Christian in 2023. The couple's organization, Love Every Nation Athens, owned the flat Ross was staying in, and they possessed a key.
Investigators became aware of Ahmadzai after his wife reportedly alerted them to his suspicious behavior on July 30. She allegedly stated she woke on the evening of July 15 to find her husband missing and that his phone's location showed him at Ross's apartment. His wife grew suspicious when Ross's body was discovered and reportedly refused money and a new phone from Ahmadzai, believing them to be purchased with Ross's funds. She handed these items to the police.
A search of the couple's home on August 1 reportedly uncovered a replica Glock-style pistol and a military-style knife. Police previously stated Ahmadzai had told his wife he argued with Ross because she wanted him to join a more 'stricter' Christian group, and that he was angered by her attempts to influence him religiously.
CCTV footage reportedly shows Ahmadzai arriving at Ross's apartment on the evening of July 16 and later carrying a suitcase away from the building. The last confirmed contact from Ross was a phone call to a friend on July 15 at 9:41 p.m. Her body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase. Her mobile phone was later switched on, leading police to Ahmadzai's location.