An Afghan migrant accused of murdering Scottish aid worker Elisabeth Jane Ross and hiding her body in a suitcase appeared in court in Athens on Wednesday, facing charges of murder and robbery.
The suspect, Sharif Ahmadzai, was escorted by police to the courthouse. His body was discovered in a suitcase at an abandoned building on July 18, several days after Ross had arrived in Athens to visit friends. She was 38 years old.
Authorities identified Ahmadzai from street camera footage that showed a man wheeling a large, dark-colored suitcase near the location where Ross's body was found. In one video, Ahmadzai can be seen dragging a large black suitcase believed to contain Ross's body through Athens.
Ahmadzai was arrested on Sunday. He was granted 24 hours to prepare his defense and is expected to return to court on Thursday, according to court officials. The investigation involved assistance from the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, Police Scotland, and law enforcement from the United States. Greek public broadcaster ERT reported that the suspect was born in Afghanistan and is pursuing a boxing career in Athens, details that authorities have not publicly confirmed.
