THE Afghan boxer accused of killing a Brit charity employee and stuffing her physique in a suitcase claims he handed her stays to an “previous man”.
Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, allegedly murdered Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, in Athens, Greece, however has claimed his Christian religion is proof he’s harmless.
He appeared in courtroom in the present day for an preliminary listening to in an unmarked gray Hyundai i30 automobile, alongside quite a lot of masked law enforcement officials.
In the course of the session, he instructed authorities of his “panic” when he found Elisabeth’s physique on the residence she was staying at in Kypseli on July 15.
Ahmadzai instructed courtroom officers the identical story he recited to police after his arrest – however this time added the element of “an aged man” who he gave the suitcase to.
The suspect claimed he met the previous man, who “labored at hospitals”, at a bus cease outdoors the flat on the day he discovered Elisabeth’s physique.
The thriller man supposedly suggested him to dump the stays in an deserted constructing – however Ahmadzai went house and left the physique within the flat.
The suspect mentioned he went again to the residence the following day, July 16, and positioned Elisabeth’s physique in a suitcase.
When he arrived at an deserted constructing reverse the Panhellenic College, Ahmadzai discovered the identical man who had suggested him the day earlier than.
The suspect mentioned: “He instructed me to go away the suitcase with him and he would handle it.
“After all, he requested me for cash in return.
“I defined to him that at that second I didn’t have any and that I might discover it and provides it to him.”
Ahmadzai instructed authorities that his Christian religion meant he was harmless of any wrongdoing.
He mentioned: “It was from the love for my household that I drew the power to let you know the reality.
“My spouse and I are Evangelical Christians, and on the similar time, we do volunteer work and charitable actions.”
He’s anticipated again in courtroom tomorrow.
The suspect has already admitted to putting Elisabeth’s body into a suitcase and taking her to the deserted web site.
Ahmadzai additionally confessed to withdrawing €10,000 (£8,500) from ATMs in Greece utilizing stolen credit cards that belonged to the sufferer.
However he has continued to disclaim murdering Elisabeth.
In a press release, the defendant mentioned: “I by no means did something unhealthy to anybody.
“I would like you to know me and imagine me. I used to be simply in a panic.”
He claims he noticed Elisabeth, who he knew as Lisa, mendacity on the ground of her rest room on July 15 earlier than leaving her and strolling house.
Racked with guilt, Ahmadzai says he returned the following day and positioned the Brit’s physique inside a suitcase and drove away together with her within the trunk.
His model of occasions in courtroom are the identical as what he initially instructed police when arrested.
Ahmadzai is because of be formally charged with intentional homicide, theft and unlawful possession of a weapon tomorrow.
Investigators have already managed to place collectively a number of strains of enquiries linking Ahmadzai to the crime.
It comes amid fears the suspect will use “each trick within the guide” to delay the homicide probe in opposition to him.
Authorized specialists instructed The Solar Ahmadzai would “virtually actually” request 48 hours to arrange a sworn statement in the present day – virtually instantly ending the listening to.
He was seen being bundled right into a automobile simply an hour later after being assigned a court-appointed lawyer who reportedly requested for further time.
Courtroom officers instructed The Solar the suspect’s authorized group was solely granted 24 hours because of the “suspicion of his actions”.
Ahmadzai was taken again to a holding cell in Athens the place he has already been locked up for six nights.
Chilling CCTV footage confirmed a person matching the Afghan’s description wheeling a black suitcase by way of the streets of Athens on July 16.
A number of textual content messages had been additionally despatched to Elisabeth’s family and friends after her dying that are believed to have been despatched from her suspected killer.
In an try and cowl his tracks Ahmadzai pretended to be an unnamed jihadist who killed the Scottish nationwide as a result of she was making an attempt to transform folks to Christianity, Greek information outlet Proto Thema stories.
Ahmadzai fled Afghanistan in 2016 after his complete household had been worn out by the Taliban.
He reportedly paid smugglers to convey him to Britain, however later crossed by way of Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey earlier than ultimately settling in Greece.
After changing to Christianity in 2017, he met his spouse Alaina Corridor, from Georgia within the US, they usually married in 2023.
Elisabeth reportedly met Ahmadzai and Alaina whereas volunteering for a refugee charity in Greece.
Outdated Fb posts from an account believed to be Ahmadzai’s communicate in regards to the man’s disdain for sure charity work.
Again in Might, a put up reads: “Disgrace on corruption dressed like charity.
“Disgrace on enterprise sporting the identify of Christ. Within the identify of Christ, individuals are getting used.
“Volunteers, college students, church buildings, and households from America and Europe are giving their time, cash, and belief however lots of them by no means cease to ask crucial query: ‘The place is the cash actually going?’
“I’ve met good folks there. I’ll by no means deny that. However good volunteers don’t routinely make a corrupt system holy.”
Bombshell testimony from Alaina in latest days suggests her husband visited Elisabeth’s residence on the night time of her disappearance.
She claimed she awakened within the early hours of July 15 to search out him lacking – and when she traced his location utilizing Discover My Mates it confirmed him at her residence.
George Kalliakmanis, an ex-cop who heads the police union in Athens, instructed The Solar: “He went to the flat the place she was staying for a purpose.
“What was it? Nothing could be dominated out. Did she reject him? Nothing could be dominated out.”
Alaina, who gave delivery to the pair’s baby just a few years in the past, raised suspicions with police after receiving a sequence of flashy items.
Ahmadzai had given her €2,550 (£2,200) and a brand new iPhone 17 Professional which Alaina feared could have been bought utilizing Elisabeth’s stolen financial institution playing cards.
