Wife’s ‘crucial’ testimony that led to ‘suitcase killer’s’ arrest…from tracing him to Brit victim’s flat to strange gift

THE wife of a man accused of killing a Brit woman in Athens alerted police after a series of strange coincidences made her suspect he might be involved in her death. Cops have now said her testimony was “crucial” in arresting Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, for the murder of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, who was discovered stuffed in a suitcase in an abandoned building on July 18. Sharif Ahmadzai and his wife Alaina Hall Credit: Unknown Ahmadzai, a professional boxer from Afghanistan, arrived in Greece in 2016 Ahmadzai fled Afghanistan in 2016 and met his future wife Alaina, a devout Christian, while volunteering at a migrant camp. The couple married in 2023 and set up a refugee charity together – where they are believed to have met fellow Christian Elisabeth Ross. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Ahmadzai’s wife allegedly reported her husband to cops after she became suspicious he was involved in Elisabeth’s death. She said she woke up on the evening of July 15 to find him missing, but when she traced his location it showed him at Elisabeth’s apartment. Ahmadzai had also given her 2,550 euros (£2,200) and a new iPhone 17 Pro, which she believed was bought using money stolen with Elisabeth’s stolen bank cards. Greek police told The Times: “The testimony of the wife has been crucial and it would appear that she did not want to be part of the crime committed by her husband. “Without her and CCTV evidence, we would not have been able to find this man.” CCTV footage has also emerged allegedly showing Ahmadzai dragging a suitcase with the Scotswoman’s body inside to the abandoned building in Athens, where she was later discovered. Most read in The Sun Chilling CCTV footage allegedly shows Sharif Ahmadzai wheeling a black suitcase through Athens Credit: iefimerida.gr The boxer also trains at Panellinios Boxing club in Kypseli which is just across the road from the derelict crime scene. Detectives raided the man’s home and found a replica Glock-style pistol and a black military-style knife. Ahmadzai has been charged with murder, robbery and illegal possession of a weapon. He is expected to appear at court in Athens this week. Greek police said the man had confessed to dumping the charity worker’s body and stealing her bank cards. But Ahmadzai has insisted that Elisabeth had already been dead in her bathroom when he found her. The suspected killer fled Afghanistan in 2016 – and reportedly paid smugglers to bring him to Britain. He crossed through Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey and eventually settled in Greece. The Afghan converted to Christianity in 2017, according to The Times, before marrying Elaine in 2023. The American-born wife wrote online: “I had seen his growth and his heart for the Lord and it was so attractive to me.” Elisabeth Ross reportedly met the couple while volunteering for a refugee charity Credit: Facebook/@Joanne Noble The derelict building where Elisabeth’s body was found on July 18 Credit: Reuters But Alaina’s parents were reportedly against her marriage to the Afghan. Alaina’s aunt, Leanne Hall, said that her brother Thomas, 65, and sister-in-law Susan, 61, had always harboured doubts over the union. In an interview with the Daily Mail, she said: “I’ve never met him, I’ve only heard about him. But I can tell you my brother and sister-in-law never wanted them to get married.” Greek police have probed several theories about the alleged murder and have narrowed their investigations down to two possible motives, including a violent mugging or sexual assault. One source said: “We believe there was a confrontation. “But was that spurred by Ross discovering the Afghan rummaging through her things and stealing her credit cards, or was it a case of sexual assault or the Briton spurning his advances?” Elisabeth’s body was discovered by a homeless man on July 18, three days after she first went missing. The charity worker had arrived in Athens on a flight from Edinburgh on June 26. Police believe she was killed not far from where her body was found in the abandoned building in Kypseli. Initial medical reports suggest Elisabeth died from asphyxiation, The Times reports, citing a case file. Her 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. Her aunt, Anne Bangham, described her as a “beautiful loving and kind young lady”. Elisabeth regularly travelled to Greece to volunteer with NGOs, working with refugee centres including the One Heart organisation in Athens. 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