Champion Afghan boxer, 26, named as suspect accused of murder of Edinburgh woman Elisabeth Jane Ross in Greece
The body of Elizabeth Jane Ross was found inside a suitcase at a derelict building in Athens last month
The man suspected of killing Edinburgh woman Elisabeth Jane Ross in Greece is a champion boxer from Afghanistan.
A man widely reported to be Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has been arrested in connection with Ms Ross’s death after her body was found inside a suitcase left at an abandoned building in Athens last month.
He is expected to appear in court in Athens on Wednesday.
Ahmadzai is said to not only be a boxer but also a Christian aid worker in Greece, having moved to the country lawfully from his native Afghanistan in 2016 after being orphaned as a teenager.
According to reports, Ahmadzai was reported to police by his American wife Alaina Hall, with whom he launched the refugee charity Love Every Nation Athens.
She is said to have noticed a change in his behaviour around the time of Ms Ross’s death and the announcement of her identification.
Ms Ross is believed to have been volunteering with a refugee charity during her time in Greece and had stayed in the Keratsini area of Piraeus until July 10 before moving on to stay with “American friends” in Kypseli.
The Greek policing union said that Ahmadzai had a key to the apartment Ms Ross had been staying in Kypseli, located around 20 minutes away from the abandoned building, and verified that he had been seen on CCTV footage moving a suitcase which they believe contained her body.
Hellenic Police, the national police force of Greece, confirmed on Sunday, August 2 that the suspect has been arrested had been made in connection with Ms Ross’s death.
The force said: “A 26-year-old foreigner was identified in the case, against whom a case was filed for manslaughter, robbery and violation of weapons laws”.
Police said that he confessed to putting Ms Ross’s body into the case and moving her to the site she was found at on July 18. However, he has denied the accusation of murder.
It was also alleged that he used her bank card in the days following her death to withdraw money from an ATM, as well as sending messages from her mobile phone to her friends and family.
Tributes have been paid to Ms Ross following her death in Greece.
Members of the congregation at Destiny Church in Edinburgh, where Ms Ross was a member, are among those who have shared their tributes.
Senior pastors, Andrew and Sue Owen, said: “Lisa will always be remembered for her unstoppable passion to help those who were less fortunate than herself.
“This passion and deep sense of calling sometimes took her to challenging places.
“Lisa was determined not to leave this world the same way she found it.”
Pastor Peter anderson also described Mr Ross as a “precious” member of the congregation and said she had a “big passion” for missionary work.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said earlier: “Our thoughts are with Elisabeth’s family during this difficult time.
“We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson previously said: “We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.
“Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland.”