Afghan, 26, ‘killed Brit woman, 38, and hid her body in suitcase because she kept talking about her Christian beliefs’

AN AFGHAN man allegedly killed a Brit woman and hid her body in a suitcase because she kept talking about her Christian beliefs, reports say. Elisabeth Ross, 38, was found stuffed inside a suitcase at an abandoned building in Athens last month – before cops cuffed a 26-year-old suspect. Elisabeth Ross was found dead inside a suitcase in Athens Greek police said the Afghan national is in custody on charges of intentional homicide, robbery and violating weapons law. He is accused of killing Elisabeth, hiding her body inside a suitcase, and then stealing her credit card before withdrawing £9,000 from her account in six days. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The suspect allegedly told his wife that he killed the victim because she kept talking about her beliefs on Christianity. Elisabeth was reportedly trying to influence him religiously, according to Greek outlet Protothema. The derelict building where Elisabeth’s body was found Credit: Reuters Police have arrested a 26-year-old Afghan in connection with her death Credit: Enterprise The suspect, who is expected to be formally charged today, was taken into custody on Thursday, two days after Elisabeth’s body was identified. It is understood that the Afghan man’s partner was friends with Elisabeth. The suspect claimed Elisabeth was dead when he found her, and only put her in a suitcase so he could steal her money without drawing suspicion. The Afghan told cops: “So I wouldn’t seem to be involved, I put her in the suitcase in order to take money from her card.” Most read in The Sun The Scotswoman was found in a suitcase at an abandoned building Credit: Facebook Elisabeth was found stuffed inside a suitcase after travelling to Greece in late June Credit: Facebook The possibility Elisabeth was suffocated is being “seriously contemplated” given the lack of evident injuries on her body, a well placed source has told the Sun. It has also been reported that the Afghan national worked as a cleaner at the building where Elisabeth lived. George Kalliakmanis, the president of the Attica Police Officers’ Union, told The Times: “[The suspect] and his wife worked as the cleaners of the building where Elisabeth lived. “He allegedly killed her, took her bank card, and put her body in a suitcase or a box. He then transported it to the abandoned building using a trolley. She was found dead in Athens Credit: Facebook/@Joanne Noble The site where the Brit woman’s body was found Credit: Reuters “Once there, he realised the suitcase he had used would likely contain his fingerprints, so he transferred the body into a second suitcase, trying to be more careful to avoid leaving prints.” Police found a replica pistol and a knife in a raid of the suspect‘s home, which is a ten-minute walk from the derelict block where Elisabeth’s body was found. The suspect has reportedly admitted to putting Elisabeth inside a suitcase before hauling it to an abandoned site in Kypseli where she was later found. Elisabeth’s phone was used to send messages and mislead her loved ones until her identity was made public on July 29. Her dad, a lawyer from Edinburgh, said he received texts for up to two weeks after her death. Messages sent to family and friends claimed that she needed to take some time for herself and wanted to be alone for a while. A Facebook post announcing that she was going to travel to Turkey was made on July 24, six days after her body was found, according to the Mail. Elisabeth arrived in the Greek capital on a flight from Edinburgh on June 26. A Greek couple who Elisabeth was staying with in Keratsini told cops she was going to stay with some Americans she knew in Kypseli. But cops later revealed that they believed she used it as a cover story to visit the homeless community in central Athens without worrying her friends. Elisabeth, known as Lisa, was reportedly seen chatting to homeless people close to an abandoned car park where they take drugs, drink and sleep rough. She was a regular traveller to Greece and volunteered for One Heart – a charity which provides medical help for refugees from Afghanistan and Iran. Her aunt, Anne Bangham, described her as a “beautiful loving and kind young lady”. Greek authorities said her cause of death could be revealed in “days” as they fast-track crucial tests. Tests on blood, urine and vital organ tissues will be key to determine if foul play was involved. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said earlier: “Our thoughts are with Elisabeth’s family during this difficult time. “We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece. “Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland.” Comment now