Μake us preferred on Google A 26-year-old Afghan man has been placed in pretrial detention after appearing before an investigating magistrate in Athens over the murder of 38-year-old British national Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was discovered inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district.
The suspect appeared before the court on Thursday after receiving an additional postponement to prepare his testimony. Following his appearance, he was ordered held in custody pending trial. According to reports, he chose to exercise his right to remain silent.
He has been charged with intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses.
Ross’s body was found on July 18 inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Kypseli. According to the Greek Police, surveillance footage in their possession appears to show the 26-year-old transporting the suitcase believed to contain her body.
Suspect Denies Murder
The suspect denies killing the victim, claiming he found Ross dead in a bathroom and panicked before deciding to move her body to the abandoned building where it was later discovered.
He also claims he encountered an unidentified elderly man on the street and asked what he should do if there was a dead person in his home. According to the suspect, the man—whose identity and even existence have not been verified—told him, “I’m a nurse, I know very well. Get rid of the body so you don’t get into trouble.”
The suspect says that he placed Ross’s body inside a suitcase and later handed it, along with money, to the elderly man to dispose of it. He further claims the man had threatened both him and his wife.
He also maintains that money withdrawn from Ross’s bank account was given to the unidentified man.
Authorities Investigate Possible Motive
Greek authorities continue investigating the motive for the killing and say all possibilities remain under consideration.
According to investigators, the leading theories are that the crime stemmed from a failed theft or robbery attempt, that the victim rejected the suspect’s romantic advances, or that a dispute related to religious issues may have occurred.
Investigators are also examining the suspect’s actions after Ross’s death. He has reportedly admitted using the victim’s bank cards to withdraw money and using her cellphone to send messages to people she knew while impersonating her.
Surveillance footage has become a key part of the investigation. Police say video recordings show the suspect moving through central Athens carrying a suitcase that investigators believe contained Ross’s body.
Ross traveled to Greece in late June to participate in volunteer work through a Protestant non-governmental organization. Her last confirmed communication was on July 15, and her body was discovered three days later. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek additional evidence to establish the full circumstances of the killing and its motive.
