Harrowing footage captured by CCTV shows the man arrested in connection with the death of a UK woman allegedly transporting a suitcase containing her remains through the streets of Athens, the capital of Greece. The video depicts Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, moving the large black case through the city center on July 16. Dressed in a black T-shirt and shorts with a blue rucksack, he is seen walking towards an abandoned building in Kypseli.
Authorities claim that Ahmadzai abandoned the corpse of 38-year-old Elisabeth Jane Ross along with the suitcase in the deserted building before fleeing the scene. Elisabeth, also known as Lisa, was discovered on July 18 by a homeless individual who alerted the police.
Ahmadzai has been apprehended and charged in connection with Lisa’s death, facing allegations of intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses. Despite admitting to transporting Lisa’s body in the suitcase, he denies the murder accusations.
Reports indicate that Ahmadzai, a champion boxer from Afghanistan, ran a refugee charity in Athens and arrived in Lesvos in 2016 as a migrant. He married US-born Alaina Hall in 2023, and the couple was involved in aiding refugees in Athens. They had a connection with Elisabeth through their charitable work.
Preliminary medical reports suggest that Elisabeth died from asphyxiation. An autopsy is ongoing to determine the official cause of death. Investigators revealed that Elisabeth arrived in Greece in late June and stayed at various locations before renting an apartment in Exarchia. Ahmadzai allegedly had access to her apartment through a set of keys.
Alaina provided crucial evidence to the investigation, including a location-sharing application that placed her husband at Lisa’s apartment on the night of July 15. She became suspicious of Ahmadzai’s involvement after Lisa’s identity was disclosed and left their home with her child.
During questioning, Ahmadzai claimed to have found Lisa dead in the apartment bathroom before disposing of her body in the suitcase. However, police allege that he used Lisa’s mobile phone to impersonate her in messages sent to relatives and friends and withdrew money with her bank cards. A search of his residence uncovered a replica pistol and a military-style knife, resulting in additional weapons charges.
Ahmadzai’s background includes a tragic history where his family members were victims of violence in Afghanistan. He migrated to Greece and achieved success in boxing. He has been referred to the appropriate authorities to face the charges and is scheduled to appear before magistrates in Athens.