Afghan Boxer’s Journey from Taliban Rule to Athens Murder Charge

New evidence has emerged in the investigation into the murder of 38-year-old British volunteer Elizabeth-Jane Ross in Athens, after CCTV footage allegedly captured the Afghan boxer charged in the case carrying a large suitcase that investigators believe contained the victim’s body.

According to Greek police, the footage shows 26-year-old professional boxer Sharif Ahmadzai dragging a large black suitcase through the streets of Athens while carrying a blue backpack.

Investigators allege Ahmadzai later arrived at an abandoned building in the Kypseli district, where he left the suitcase before departing approximately 13 minutes later without either the suitcase or the backpack.

Police Investigation

Authorities began investigating Ahmadzai after his wife reportedly contacted police on July 30 to report behaviour she considered suspicious.

According to police sources, she told investigators she awoke during the night of July 15 and discovered her husband was missing. After checking a location-tracking application, she allegedly found him at Ross’s apartment.

Police said Ahmadzai later claimed he found Ross dead in her bathroom.

Investigators allege he admitted using the victim’s bank cards to withdraw money and sending messages from her mobile phone to relatives and friends while impersonating her in an attempt to conceal her disappearance.

His wife reportedly became suspicious after Ross’s body was discovered. She left the family home with their baby and checked into a hotel before handing €2,550 in cash and a new mobile phone to police, believing they had been purchased using Ross’s money.

During a search of Ahmadzai’s home on August 1, officers reportedly recovered a replica Glock-style pistol and a military-style knife.

From Afghanistan to Greece

According to reports published by the Daily Mail, Ahmadzai arrived on the Greek island of Lesvos in 2016 after fleeing Afghanistan.

He has previously described a childhood marked by violence. His father, a military commander, survived multiple Taliban assassination attempts before being killed when Ahmadzai was three years old. Several years later, his older brother was abducted by the Taliban and never returned, while his mother, sister and younger brother were killed in a car bombing.

After leaving Afghanistan, Ahmadzai travelled on foot through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey before eventually reaching Greece. He later learned English while living at the Moria Reception and Identification Centre on Lesvos and worked as a translator for a humanitarian organisation.

He converted to Christianity in 2017 and moved to Athens in 2019, where he coached refugee children in boxing.

Ahmadzai married volunteer Alaina Hall in April 2023, and together they established the charity initiative Love Every Nation Athens, providing assistance to refugees and vulnerable families.

Ross, who also volunteered with Christian organisations, reportedly became acquainted with the couple through their humanitarian work. Police said she was staying in an apartment linked to their organisation.

Alleged Religious Dispute

Police sources told Greek media that investigators are examining whether disagreements over religious matters formed part of the relationship between Ahmadzai and Ross.

According to investigators, Ahmadzai’s wife told police he had expressed frustration because Ross allegedly encouraged him to join a stricter Christian group.

Ross, who was from Edinburgh, had travelled regularly to Greece over the past seven years to volunteer with organisations supporting refugees and vulnerable communities. She arrived in Athens on June 26 and moved into an apartment on Rethymnou Street on July 2.

Police said Ross’s last confirmed communication was a phone call with a close friend at 9:41 p.m. on July 15. Friends and relatives later received text messages from her phone, but became concerned after noticing a change in writing style and references to self-isolation that they considered out of character.

Investigators also allege CCTV footage shows Ahmadzai arriving at Ross’s apartment on the evening of July 16 before later transporting the suitcase to the abandoned property.

Ahmadzai is expected to appear before an investigating magistrate on Wednesday.

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