THE devastated family of the British woman found dead in a suitcase after allegedly being killed by an Afghan migrant have broken their silence.
Afghan boxer Sharif Ahmadzai is currently being held in connection with the death of Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, having refused to enter a plea on Thursday.
Elisabeth Jane Ross’ family issued this photo of her when they released their touching tribute Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Alaina Hall, the wife of the accused Sharif Ahmadzai says she became suspicious of her husband Credit: Instagram
Ross was a regular visitor to Greece as she volunteered with NGOs assisting refugees, homeless people and other vulnerable people, focusing on Afghanistan and Iran.
The Brit, from Edinburgh, had initially been staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini district, having arrived in Athens on June 26.
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She moved to Rethymnou Street in the centre of the capital on July 2, police have confirmed, where she was volunteering with a Christian-based NGO, working with refugees.
Her body was discovered in an abandoned building two weeks later.
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CCTV footage appears to show Ahmadzai wheeling a suitcase down a road in Athens Credit: iefimerida.gr
The abandoned building where Elisabeth’s body was found Credit: Reuters
Ross’ family issued a statement on Thursday, which said: “Lisa will always be remembered by us as kind, principled and selfless.
“Her integrity was absolute, and she dedicated her life to helping others in need.
“We are in deep pain, and we ask for time and privacy as we come to terms with our loss.”
Ahmadzai, 26, is accused of manslaughter, robbery and illegal gun possession.
Ahmadzai is accused of manslaughter, robbery and illegal gun possession Credit: FlashGR/X/@JohnKemmos
Elisabeth had gone Greece to volunteer with an NGO to help refugees Credit: Facebook
He did not respond to the charges and the authorities are waiting toxicological test results.
Ahmadzai’s US-born wife Alaina Hall allegedly reported her husband to cops after she became suspicious he was involved in Elisabeth’s death.
She told cops that she had met Elisabeth through volunteer work in Athens and had last seen her on July 12, after a Bible study meeting, according to Greek news outlet Protothema.
Days later, she heard reports of a body being found stuffed in a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens.
Later that night, Alaina recalled waking up with a “terrible” feeling.
In the morning she then texted Elisabeth and got two replies which made her suspicious.
Alaina said: “These messages were not in Lisa’s style, both in terms of her level of English and the use of emojis that she never used.”
When she tried calling Elisabeth she didn’t get a reply.
Alaina also told police she had grown suspicious of her husband after she woke to find him missing on the evening of July 15.
When she checked his shared location, she saw he was in Elisabeth’s flat.
Having later confronted him, he told her he had been watching a football match but had gone to Elisabeth’s apartment to use the toilet.
She told police: “I don’t know what to tell you, but all of the above made me feel strange.
“Especially combining the dates, the messages and my husband’s behaviour, I have various thoughts that make me feel uncomfortable.”
Investigating officers also found CCTV footage which allegedly shows him leaving Elizabeth’s apartment with a suitcase and dropping it where her remains were discovered on July 16.
News outlet Protothema reported earlier this week that Ahmadzai had told police in a statement on Saturday that he did not kill Elisabeth, saying her found her dead before panicking.
In his testimony he reportedly said: “I never did harm to anyone. I want you to understand me and believe me. I was just in a panic.”
He is said to have claimed he had visited the house where she was staying and found her lying on the bathroom floor.
Ahmadzai said: “[She] was spitting something like water out of her mouth. I spoke to her two or three times, but she didn’t respond. I froze. My legs went numb.”
The 26-year-old then claimed he panicked and fled and then encountered an elderly man near a bus stop.
He reportedly asked the man what he should do after finding a dead body.
Ahmadzai said: “[The old man] told me that he worked with hospitals and he knows about them and what I should do is remove it from the house, or I will get into trouble.
“I sat and thought about what he told me for a few hours.”
He then said he had returned to the apartment the following day and placed Elisabeth’s body in a black suitcase, before placing it in the boot of the red Peugeot he drove.
Ahmadzai said: “I started in the Peugeot, arrived near my house and parked it.
“I got out of the car, took the suitcase out of the trunk and walked to an abandoned building across from the Panhellenic University.
“There I found the old man I told you about who gave me the advice. He told me to leave the suitcase with him, and he would take care of it.”
He also admitted to the cops he had taken Elisabeth’s phone and bank cards.
Ahmadzai added: “In addition to Lisa’s cards, I also took her mobile phone. From that, I sent some messages to people close to her to reassure them that she was okay.
“I don’t know what I was thinking. I wasn’t thinking clearly.
“I gave all the money I took out of Lisa’s cards to the old man because he was blackmailing me that he would tell everything to the police.
“As far as I know, this old man’s name is Nikos, and he frequents the place where I left the suitcase.”
Along with “intentional homicide” he has also been charged with robbery and weapons offences.
