An Afghan migrant accused of killing a British aid worker and concealing her body in a suitcase has reportedly been assaulted in a Greek prison. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, is being held in connection with the death of Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Athens on July 18.
Ahmadzai, a former boxer who moved to Athens with his American wife, has been charged with homicide with intent, robbery, and illegal gun possession. His wife, Alaina Hall, reportedly provided information to the police after becoming suspicious of his behavior following Ms. Ross's death.
He was taken to Korydallos Prison, Greece's largest jail, in August while awaiting trial. The facility is known for overcrowding and has been described as having inhumane conditions. According to a custodial source, Ahmadzai has been labeled a "lady killer" by fellow inmates and has faced physical attacks from prisoners who reportedly disapprove of those accused of his alleged crime.
Sources within the facility stated that the attack occurred shortly after Ahmadzai's arrival. "He was targeted by other prisoners quite soon," a source told The Sun. "He had to be taken to the infirmary."
Elisabeth Ross, from Edinburgh, had been volunteering with NGOs in Greece that assisted refugees, homeless individuals, and other vulnerable groups, particularly those from Afghanistan and Iran. She arrived in Athens on June 26 and was staying with friends before moving to the city center on July 2, where she volunteered with a Christian-based NGO assisting refugees. Her body was found in an abandoned building approximately two weeks later.
Ms. Hall told authorities that she met Ms. Ross through volunteer work and last saw her at a Bible study meeting on July 12. Days later, upon hearing news of a body found in a derelict building, Ms. Hall reported receiving suspicious text messages from Ms. Ross's phone, which she claimed were not in her friend's usual style or English proficiency. Her suspicions grew after she discovered her husband had been at Ms. Ross's apartment on the evening of July 15.
Authorities began investigating Ahmadzai on July 30 after Ms. Hall reported his suspicious behavior. CCTV footage reportedly shows him leaving the apartment where Ms. Ross was staying with a suitcase and discarding it near where her remains were found on July 16.
During his testimony, Ahmadzai denied harming anyone, stating he panicked after finding Ms. Ross deceased on her bathroom floor. He claimed an elderly man advised him to remove the body to avoid trouble, leading him to place Ms. Ross's body in a suitcase and abandon it in an abandoned building. He also admitted to taking Ms. Ross's phone and bank cards, withdrawing over €10,000, which he claimed he gave to the elderly man under duress. Ahmadzai arrived in Greece in 2016, converted to Christianity, and married Ms. Hall in 2023, establishing a ministry to help refugees in Athens.