Afghan boxer accused of killing aid worker whose body was found in suitcase
Afghan Boxer Faces Murder Charges After Aid Worker Found in Athens Suitcase
Activelifezero.com – A 26-year-old Afghan national stands accused of murdering a 38-year-old Scottish humanitarian worker, whose remains were discovered inside a suitcase at a derelict building in Athens. The suspect made his first court appearance on Thursday, where he faced multiple charges including intentional homicide, robbery, and firearms violations. Under Greek legislation, his identity remains protected from public disclosure.
The Discovery and Arrest
Elisabeth Ross's body was located on July 18 at an abandoned construction site in the Greek capital. According to George Kalliakmanis, head of the Union of Police Officers of Southeast Attica, investigators identified the suspect through surveillance footage capturing a man pushing a large suitcase near the location. Another individual subsequently discovered the suitcase containing Ross's remains.
The suspect was taken into custody on Sunday and formally charged on Thursday. He has entered a plea of not guilty to the intentional homicide charge. Kalliakmanis noted that police identified the suspect from CCTV footage, which shows a man near the site wheeling a large suitcase, which was later found by another man.
The Suspect's Background
The accused arrived in Greece in 2016 after leaving Afghanistan at age 15. He trained as a boxer and achieved recognition in Greek national championships, according to CNN Greece. In 2023, he married a United States citizen, and the couple welcomed one child together. That same year, he and his wife established a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting refugees in Greece.
Authorities are currently examining whether the suspect had prior knowledge of Ross through their shared work with refugee populations in Greece. Police Scotland has confirmed they are assisting with the investigation and providing support to Ross's family in Scotland.
Court Proceedings and Initial Testimony
The suspect appeared briefly in court on Wednesday before returning for a more substantial hearing on Thursday. During his initial testimony, he maintained that he discovered Ross already deceased in a bathroom. He claimed that panic led him to place her body in a suitcase and transport it to the construction site.
"In his first testimony he (the suspect) denies killing the woman. He said he found her dead in the bathroom. And then panicked and decided to remove the body," Kalliakmanis said.
However, several questions persist regarding the circumstances of Ross's death. Kalliakmanis highlighted uncertainties about how the suspect gained access to Ross's apartment and whether she opened the door for him or if he possessed a key to the residence.
Financial and Digital Evidence
Investigators have uncovered financial activity following Ross's death. The suspect has acknowledged using Ross's bank card to withdraw approximately 10,000 euros, equivalent to $11,500. Additionally, police believe someone continued utilizing Ross's mobile phone after her death, sending messages that appeared to originate from her. These messages ceased once her body was discovered, according to Kalliakmanis.
Following the discovery of Ross's remains, the suspect's wife approached police with information from a location-sharing application. The app indicated that her husband had been present in the flat where Ross died during the night of July 15 and into the early hours of July 16. Kalliakmanis noted that the wife did not immediately question her husband about his presence at that location.
"But questions remain as to how he entered the woman's apartment. And if she opened the door for him or whether he had a key," said Kalliakmanis, who added that the man has admitted to using Ross' bank card to withdraw around 10,000 euros ($11,500).
Medical Findings and Ongoing Investigation
An preliminary coroner's examination has not yet established a definitive cause of death, though asphyxiation remains a possibility that cannot be excluded, Kalliakmanis explained. Investigators have found no evidence suggesting the suspect's wife participated in Ross's death, and she has not been formally implicated in the case.
"She did not confront him about why he was there, added Kalliakmanis, who said that the investigators had found no evidence that the suspect's wife was involved in Ross' death."
The case has drawn international attention given its cross-border elements. A Scottish victim, an Afghan suspect, and a US citizen wife create a complex diplomatic and legal landscape. Police Scotland confirmed their involvement in a statement to CNN, noting that officers are providing support to Ross's family in Scotland while liaising with Greek authorities.
The investigation continues as prosecutors work to establish the precise sequence of events that led to Ross's death and determine whether the suspect's account aligns with physical and digital evidence collected at the scene and in the days following the discovery.
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