Man charged in Greece over murder of British aid worker Elizabeth Jane Ross
A man has been charged in Greece in connection with the killing of British aid worker Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Greek police have charged a 26-year-old man with the murder of British aid worker Elizabeth Jane Ross, known as Lisa, whose body was found inside a suitcase in a derelict building in Athens. Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, had been volunteering with refugee support groups in Greece. She arrived in Athens at the end of June and was staying with friends in the city. Her body was discovered on 18 July in the Kipseli district, after a homeless man reportedly found the suitcase in an abandoned building. Police identified her through Interpol fingerprint data.
The suspect, Sharif Ahmadzai, is an Afghan national who arrived in Greece as a refugee in 2016. He is a champion boxer and runs a refugee charity with his American wife. Greek police said they traced him using CCTV footage, which appears to show him wheeling a suitcase through the streets of Athens. Ahmadzai was arrested on suspicion of homicide with intent, robbery, and weapons offences. He admitted moving Ross's body but denied killing her, claiming he found her already dead in the bathroom of the flat where she was staying.
Ahmadzai appeared in court in Athens on Wednesday, where he faced charges of homicide with intent, robbery, and weapons offences. He made no comment during the hearing, and the case was deferred until the next day. On Thursday, he was formally charged and remanded in custody. His lawyer said he had exercised his right to remain silent pending forensic and toxicology examinations. Police believe Ross died between five and seven days before her body was found. They also said that her bank cards were used after her death, and that messages were sent from her phone to relatives and friends claiming she was fine.
The suspect's wife, Elena Hall, reportedly provided key information that led to his arrest. Court documents claim she told police that her husband had been at Ross's apartment on the night of 15 July, after she checked his location on her phone. She also told investigators that Ross's messages were not in her style or level of English. Police have seized a replica pistol and a knife from Ahmadzai's home.
Ross's family paid tribute to her, describing her as "kind, principled and selfless" and saying she dedicated her life to helping others. A friend who worked with her at a Christian aid charity said she would always give to others, even to the point of forgetting about herself. The exact cause of death is still awaiting toxicology results, and the investigation continues. Ahmadzai's trial could be up to 18 months away.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 26-year-old man from Afghanistan was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, robbery and violation of weapons law; police used video footage to identify him. | · | |||||
| CCTV footage shows the suspect leaving an apartment with a suitcase and dropping it where the body was found. | · | · | ||||
| The body of a Scottish woman was found in a suitcase in Athens; she was identified as 38-year-old Elizabeth Jane Ross, and police are investigating. | · | · | ||||
| The suspect is an Afghan national who arrived in Greece in 2016, converted to Christianity, married an American woman, and was a championship boxer. | · | · | ||||
| Her phone was used after her body was found to send messages saying she was fine. | · | · | · | |||
| Investigators said the suspect used the victim's bank cards to withdraw money after the killing. | · | · | · | |||
| The suspect admitted moving the body but denied murder. | · | · | · | |||
| The suspect admitted the crime. | · | · | · | |||
| The suspect's wife alerted police after he behaved erratically. | · | · | · | |||
| Identification was made via Interpol fingerprint data. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Police seized a replica pistol and a knife during a search of the suspect's home. | · | · | · | · | ||
| She left her friend's home three days before she was found dead. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West provided detailed, factual reporting across multiple segments, focusing on the CCTV evidence, the suspect's background, and the court proceedings. The tone was neutral and comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on the timeline and the family's tribute.
- “This CCTV footage shows a man wheeling a suitcase through Athens. Police believe it contains Lisa's body.”
- “She will always be remembered as kind, principled and selfless.”
- “He was remanded in custody until his trial which could be up to 18 months away.”
BBC NEWS covered the story with a similar factual approach to BBC ONE West, but with a focus on the court appearance and the ongoing investigation. The reporting included local reaction and the suspect's background, maintaining a neutral and informative tone.
- “The man suspected of killing a Scottish aid worker in Greece has appeared in court in Athens.”
- “He was told he faces charges of homicide with intent, equivalent of a murder charge in the UK, robbery and weapons offenses.”
- “The whole neighbourhood is in major distress. Even the young children, my own daughter, who is 10 years old, is terrified and consumed by fear.”
5 News focused on the disturbing details of the case, including the use of Ross's phone after her death and the suspect's background. The reporting had a more emotional tone, highlighting the shock and the role of the suspect's wife. It also included updates from Glasgow and Athens.
- “It is a very, very disturbing story, Dan.”
- “Police say this is him too, wheeling a suitcase through a quiet street, allegedly carrying the body of Elizabeth Jane Ross.”
- “The exact cause of her death is still being established, although police believe she died of suffocation.”
ITV1 provided comprehensive coverage with a focus on the suspect's denial and the legal proceedings. They highlighted the suspect's background as a boxer and charity worker, and included details from court hearings and the family tribute. The tone was serious and factual.
- “A man has been arrested over the death of a Scottish woman whose body was found inside a suitcase in Athens.”
- “He denied the killing, saying that he found Ms Ross already dead in her bathroom at the flat where she was staying.”
- “The family and friends of a dedicated woman who put the vulnerable first, now left to face a life so cruelly taken.”
Sky News gave a concise update on the court appearance, focusing on the suspect's admission of moving the body and denial of murder. The tone was straightforward and brief, with a correspondent on the ground providing context about the locations.
- “A man accused of killing a Scottish aid worker in Athens and disposing of her body in a suitcase has appeared in court today.”
- “Greek officials say he admitted moving the body, but denied murder allegations.”
- “He is accused of killing Elizabeth here in Athens and disposing of her body.”
GB News took a more opinionated and political angle, focusing on the suspect's migrant background and the implications for charity workers. The discussion emphasised the dangers faced by women in such roles and raised questions about migration policy. The tone was provocative and editorialised.
- “It's a desperately sad story, this.”
- “He was then essentially was dubbed into police by his wife after she said that he was behaving erratically.”
- “But to look at this wedding photograph, this guy looks like a totally nice, sensible, integrated person, does he not?”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.