Greek police sources have suggested that a British charity worker may have been killed after rejecting the advances of a boxer, as the investigation into her death continues. The body of Elizabeth-Jane Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, was discovered in an abandoned building in Athens on July 18, three days after she was reported missing from her flat.
Suspect's claims and police doubts
Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, an Afghan boxer, is the prime suspect in the case. He allegedly told detectives that Ms Ross was already dead when he found her, and that he placed her body in a suitcase to steal money without drawing attention. However, George Kalliakmanis, a former police officer who leads the police union in Athens, has hinted that the rejection theory cannot be ruled out.
Speaking to The Sun, Kalliakmanis said: 'He went to the flat where she was staying for a reason and it's not thought that reason is because he wanted to commit robbery and steal her cards. What was it? Nothing can be ruled out. Did she reject him? Nothing can be ruled out.' Another source close to the investigation added: 'It can't be excluded that he had feelings for Ross who rejected him.'
Access to the victim's flat
Ahmadzai reportedly had access to Ms Ross's flat through a charity he ran with his wife, Alaina Hall, an American citizen. Hall allegedly told detectives that her husband went missing on the evening of July 15, and when she checked his location on the Find My Friends app, it showed him at Ms Ross's apartment. She also revealed that Ahmadzai gave her around £2,200 in cash and a new iPhone, which she feared may have been purchased with Ms Ross's bank cards.
Greek police officers told The Times that Hall's testimony has been 'crucial' to the investigation. Ahmadzai, who arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos via Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey in 2016, met his wife at a migrant camp where she volunteered and he worked as a translator. He has been charged with manslaughter, robbery, and weapon offences.
Victim's background and tribute
Ms Ross, known as Lisa, was a missionary and a long-standing member of City on a Hill, an independent Christian church in Edinburgh. Peter Anderson, a pastor of the congregation, paid tribute to her in a social media post: 'We have lost a precious church member, Lisa. She was a member of our church for 20 years, and a very, very precious girl, and it's a real tragic loss. Lisa's life was actually all about mission. She served people and she cared for people all over the world.'
The case has drawn widespread attention, with video footage showing a man wheeling a suitcase through Athens streets, allegedly carrying Ms Ross's body. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the events leading to her death.
