The person suspected of killing Scottish support employee Elisabeth Jane Ross in Greece is 26-year-old Sharif Ahmadzai, the BBC understands.
He was arrested after the physique of the 38-year-old was present in a suitcase in an deserted constructing within the Kypseli district of Athens on 18 July, a number of days after she was reported lacking.
Ahmadzai, who was born in Afghanistan and is a champion boxer, settled in Greece after travelling there as a young person.
Each Ross and Ahmadzai had labored with refugees and Greek police are investigating whether or not the pair knew one another via the charity sector.
Ahmadzai was arrested on suspicion of murder with intent, theft and weapons offences, and is anticipated to look in court docket in Athens on Wednesday.
Police mentioned the coroner’s preliminary report failed to find out a reason for loss of life, however extra detailed examinations concluded it was an “apparent prison act, probably asphyxiation”.
The BBC understands Ahmadzai, who left Afghanistan after being orphaned aged 15, lives in Greece together with his American spouse, Alaina Corridor, and their little one.
His father, a commander within the Afghan military, was shot useless and his mom and siblings had been killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul.
He travelled to Greece by way of Iran and Turkey, based on a video telling his story which was printed by the Worldwide Federation of Pink Cross and Pink Crescent Societies (IFRC), earlier than settling in a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos.
It’s understood that is the place he met his spouse and transformed to Christianity. The couple then arrange the charity Love Each Nation Athens to assist different refugees.
Police mentioned Elisabeth Jane Ross – who’s from Edinburgh and is understood to household and buddies as Lisa – arrived in Greece on 26 June and stayed within the Kertasini space of Piraeus till 10 July.
She had been volunteering with a refugee assist group primarily based in Athens.
This photograph of Elisabeth Jane Ross – recognized by buddies as Lisa – is believed up to now from 2015 [Facebook]
Ross instructed Greek buddies that she was going to Kypseli to satisfy “American buddies” on 15 July.
The president of the Union of Police Officers of Southeast Attica, George Kalliakmanis, mentioned they had been investigating whether or not Ahmadzai had a key to the house Ross was staying in.
The police union mentioned it had verified footage showing to point out Ahmadzai carrying a suitcase which is believed to have contained the physique.
It added {that a} location sharing app, utilized by Ahmadzai’s spouse, confirmed that the suspect was at 9 Rethymnou Road – the place the place Ross is assumed to have died – within the days earlier than.
Police additionally mentioned the suspect had used the useless girl’s financial institution playing cards to withdraw cash.
The constructing the physique was present in is about 20 minutes from the place Ross had been staying.
In an interview with BBC Information, Kalliakmanis mentioned: “They [police investigators] are wanting into whether or not he [Ahmadzai] had met her [Ross] beforehand via his involvement in boxing or an NGO working with refugees, as she additionally labored for an NGO.
“May they’ve crossed paths previously? Sure, it is doable.”
Kalliakmanis mentioned Ahmadzai had denied homicide however admitted to shifting the physique.
“He claims he discovered her useless within the rest room and panicked, fearing he could be blamed,” he mentioned.
Kalliakmanis mentioned police believed the suspect took the sufferer’s financial institution card and telephone, and “made certain” to ship textual content messages to her household and buddies to “make it seem to be she was nonetheless alive”.
He mentioned the police additionally believed the suspect used the sufferer’s financial institution card to make withdrawals totalling “round £10,000”.
Kalliakmanis added that Ahmadzai’s spouse had no involvement or prior data of the alleged crime.
Flowers have been laid close to to the place her physique was found.
One message reads: “For Elisabeth, Might you relaxation in peace and will your reminiscence stay on within the hearts of us all. With deepest sympathy and respect. You’ll not be forgotten.”
‘Ardour for missionary work’
In Edinburgh, Pastor Peter Anderson mentioned Ross had been a “valuable” member of the congregation at Metropolis on a Hill church for 20 years.
He described her as having a “massive ardour” for missionary work and “cared for folks everywhere in the world”.
In a video posted on the Metropolis on a Hill Fb web page, the pastor mentioned: “She had been to many locations and served folks. She was a really valuable lady and it’s a tragic loss.”
Throughout searches of Ahmadzai’s dwelling, officers claimed to have recovered and seized a reproduction pistol and a knife.
Police mentioned they had been additionally seeking to hint Ross’s American buddies.
Further reporting by Daphne Toli in Athens and Georgina Hayes in Scotland.