A Scottish woman who spent time supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Greece has been identified after her body was discovered inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens. Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, from Edinburgh, was identified by Greek authorities after investigators used fingerprint evidence, alongside assistance from Interpol and US authorities.
Ross had travelled to Greece in June and had previously volunteered with refugee support organisation One Heart. The Blaze reported that police have arrested Afghan national Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, over allegations connected to her death. Authorities allege Ahmadzai used Ross’s bank cards after her disappearance and used her phone in an apparent attempt to mislead friends and family about her whereabouts.
Police also say CCTV footage showed a man believed to be Ahmadzai leaving Ross’s address and moving a suitcase similar to the one later found containing her remains. A key part of the investigation has been the testimony of Ahmadzai’s wife, Alaina Hall, who reportedly contacted police after Ross was identified as the victim. According to reports, Hall became concerned after Ahmadzai was absent from their home and checked a location-sharing application, which allegedly showed him at Ross’s apartment.
A police source said: “The testimony of the wife has been crucial. Without her and CCTV evidence, we would not have been able to find this man.” Ahmadzai, who arrived in Greece in 2016 after travelling through several countries, is alleged by Greek authorities to have admitted killing Ross. He arrived at court for a hearing on Wednesday morning in an unmarked grey Hyundai i30 car, alongside a number of police officers, and left in the same vehicle about an hour later.
The case has also drawn attention following other recent violent crimes involving foreign nationals whose seeking of asylum or migration status in Europe have been mishandled by elected officials. In Ireland, the murder of American mother Jamey Carney sparked outrage after it emerged her aslyum seeker boyfriend had been living nearby and beat her to death, while another case saw a Sudanese migrant in Belfast attempt to behead a local, gouging his eyes out in a brutal attack.
