An Afghan migrant accused of killing a British charity worker and concealing her body in a suitcase appeared in a Greek court for the first time on Monday. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, faces charges of intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses in connection with the death of Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, who was volunteering in Athens to assist vulnerable individuals.
Ahmadzai was escorted by four armed police officers into the Evelpidon court complex in Athens. He is expected to be formally charged by a Greek prosecutor and subsequently remanded in custody, with a trial anticipated within the next 18 months. His legal representation has indicated that Ahmadzai intends to deny the killing, claiming he discovered Ms. Ross deceased in a bathroom and subsequently panicked.
According to police sources, Ahmadzai arrived in Greece in 2016 and later converted to Christianity. In 2023, he married U.S.-born Christian Alaina Hall, and together they established a ministry to aid refugees in Athens. The couple reportedly knew Ms. Ross, who was also a Christian volunteer, through their shared work. Police suggest the couple had access to Ms. Ross's apartment, as it was owned by their organization, Love Every Nation Athens.
Investigators began scrutinizing Ahmadzai after his wife allegedly reported his suspicious behavior on July 30. She reportedly told authorities that she woke on the evening of July 15 to find her husband missing and that location-sharing data indicated he was at Ms. Ross's apartment. Ahmadzai is understood to have told investigators that he found Ms. Ross already dead in her bathroom. He allegedly admitted to using the victim's bank cards for cash withdrawals and her phone to send messages to relatives and friends, posing as her.
Ahmadzai's wife reportedly grew suspicious after Ms. Ross's body was discovered. She left their home with their infant child and checked into a hotel. She also stated that Ahmadzai gave her 2,550 euros and a new iPhone, which she refused and subsequently handed over to the police, believing the items were purchased with Ms. Ross's money. During a raid on the couple's home on August 1, police reportedly found a replica Glock-style pistol and a military-style knife.
Police sources also indicated that Ahmadzai had confided in his wife that he was angry with Ms. Ross because she wanted him to join a more 'strict' Christian group, which he found overwhelming. Ms. Ross, originally from Edinburgh, had been visiting Greece for seven years, volunteering with non-governmental organizations supporting refugees and other vulnerable populations. She had previously worked with the One Heart organization, which provides medical aid to refugees. Ms. Ross arrived in Athens on June 26 and moved to an apartment on Rethymnou Street in the city center on July 2, where she was volunteering with a Christian-based NGO.
CCTV footage reportedly shows Ahmadzai arriving at Ms. Ross's apartment on the evening of July 16. Later that night, approximately 10 p.m., he was seen on camera carrying a suitcase along the road near a derelict car park. Thirteen minutes later, he was seen walking away from the site without the suitcase. The last confirmed communication from Ms. Ross was a phone call to a friend at 9:41 p.m. on July 15. Following this, friends and relatives received messages that they found suspicious due to their altered style of language and indications that Ms. Ross wanted to be alone, which was considered out of character.