Afghan Boxer Accused of Killing Scottish Aid Worker in Greece

Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has been questioned again in Athens after authorities charged him with murder, robbery and illegal weapons possession in the disappearance of Scottish volunteer Elisabeth Ross.

Ross, 38, was found dead in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens on 18 July. The body was discovered by a homeless man, and police believe she died a few days before her remains were found.

Ahmadzai appeared in court in an unmarked grey car, unphotographed, on Thursday morning. He received a court‑appointed lawyer the day before and was given time to prepare his defence.

Police allege the boxer stole more than €10,000 (£8,500) from Ross’s bank accounts after gaining access to her cards. He is also accused of moving Ross’s body and, according to Greek policing union officials, admitting to moving the body but denying the homicide claim.

Last week, newspaper reports said Ahmadzai bought a phone and sent texts to Ross’s friends and family, pretending to be an unnamed jihadist and claiming he had killed the Scot because of her religion. His wife, a US citizen, told police she had suspected him in the killing after waking up to find he was not at home and tracking his phone to Ross’s location.

Ross, originally from Edinburgh, had arrived in Greece on 26 June and was volunteering with a refugee support group based in Athens until 10 July. She was known to friends as “Lisa.”