The grieving family of a British woman who was discovered deceased in a suitcase expressed their profound sorrow as the suspected perpetrator of her death faced legal proceedings.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, also known as Lisa, was found by a homeless individual in an abandoned structure in Athens on July 18, a few days subsequent to her being reported missing.
Engaged in charitable activities in Greece as a Christian aid worker, Lisa encountered Sharif Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old Afghan boxer, who stood before the court accused of robbery and weapon-related offenses.
In their initial public statement following their daughter’s tragic passing, Lisa’s family described her as a compassionate, principled, and altruistic individual.
Ahmadzai, a professional athlete hailing from Afghanistan, made an appearance in an Athens court where he faced charges of unlawful possession of weapons and intentional homicide. He refrained from speaking during the hearing and did not enter a plea regarding the allegations against him.
Ahmadzai allegedly met Lisa through his spouse, Alaina Hall, an American, with whom he operates a charity called Love Every Nation. Hall reportedly alerted authorities to her suspicions about her husband’s involvement in the crime after realizing his absence and tracking him to the location where Ross was residing.
Law enforcement officials detained the suspect for interrogation after scrutinizing nearby CCTV footage. Ahmadzai purportedly sent messages from Ross’s phone to her acquaintances after allegedly taking her life before acquiring another device to impersonate an unidentified jihadist in communications with friends, including his wife.
Tributes in the form of flowers have been placed near the site where Ross was discovered, with a heartfelt message in Greek bidding her farewell.
Representatives from the Foreign Office and Police Scotland extended their condolences and confirmed their collaboration with Greek authorities to support the deceased woman’s family during this challenging period.
