Afghan suspect in Athens court over Scottish aid death

A 26-year-old Afghan national has appeared in court in Athens, Greece, charged in connection with the death of a Scottish aid worker whose body was discovered in a suitcase last month. Sharif Ahmadzai faces charges of intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses following the death of 38-year-old Elisabeth-Jane Ross, also known as Lisa, from Edinburgh.

Ross’s body was found by a homeless man in a derelict, graffiti-covered building on Evelpidon Street in the Kypseli district of Athens on July 18. Authorities believe she died between five and seven days prior to the discovery, a period during which Athens experienced extreme heat nearing 97 degrees Fahrenheit, complicating the forensic investigation. Her identity was confirmed using fingerprints with international assistance.

The suspect, Ahmadzai, arrived at the Court of First Instance in Athens on the morning of August 6 for a further hearing. Greek police allege that surveillance camera footage was pivotal in the investigation, showing a man using Ross’s bank cards to withdraw more than 10,000 euros from her accounts after her death. During a search of Ahmadzai’s home, police reported recovering multiple weapons,...