Greek authorities have charged a 26-year-old Afghan man, Sharif Ahmadzai, in connection with the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens in July. Ross, from Edinburgh, was discovered in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district on July 18. Investigators believe she died several days earlier, with initial medical reports indicating asphyxiation as the likely cause, although the exact circumstances remain under examination.

Ahmadzai, a professional boxer and refugee charity founder based in Athens, has been formally accused of “intentional homicide” following three days of police questioning. He reportedly admitted to transporting Ross’s body to the location where it was found but denies responsibility for her death. Authorities have uncovered CCTV footage showing Ahmadzai moving a trolley with the suitcase on the night of July 16. Police also say he used Ross’s credit cards to withdraw approximately €10,000 in the days following her death, a detail that has shaped the direction of the investigation.

Ross arrived in Greece in late June and was living in a ground-floor apartment in the Exarchia neighborhood, an area known for its bohemian community and presence of NGOs. The flat, owned by the refugee organization Love Every Nation, was managed by Ahmadzai and his wife, Alaina Hall, a US citizen. Both Ahmadzai and Hall had keys to the apartment. Ross was reportedly connected to the couple through their joint humanitarian work. Her last known contact was a phone call on July 15, three days before her body was found.

Hall is reported to have played a significant role in the investigation, allegedly growing suspicious of Ahmadzai’s activities and financial behavior. She is said to have contacted the police after receiving cash from Ahmadzai that was linked to the withdrawals made with Ross’s cards, and later moved out of the shared residence. Police describe text messages sent from Ross’s phone after her death as deliberately misleading attempts to delay the declaration of her disappearance.

Officials are exploring multiple theories surrounding the motive for the killing, including a possible confrontation stemming from Ross discovering Ahmadzai accessing her belongings or a rejected advance. Police stress that forensic analysis is ongoing, with full toxicology results awaited to confirm the cause of death.

Sharif Ahmadzai, who arrived in Greece as a child refugee during the European migration crisis, gained recognition as the Greek super light-weight boxing champion in 2023. His background includes personal tragedy, as his father was reportedly killed by the Taliban and other family members died during conflict in Afghanistan.

Ahmadzai is scheduled to appear before an investigating magistrate in Athens for his formal indictment in the coming days. The inquiry continues with assistance from UK authorities, including the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland, as police work to clarify the circumstances and motive behind Ross’s death.