A 26-year-old Afghan boxer accused of killing a Scottish woman in Greece will remain in custody until his trial, following a court decision, according to Greek legal and police sources.
Reuters reported that the Afghan national faces charges of manslaughter, robbery and illegal possession of a weapon in connection with the death of Elizabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish psychotherapist and volunteer aid worker whose body was discovered inside a suitcase at an abandoned construction site in Athens on July 18.
Ross was reported missing three days before her body was found. Greek authorities said the suspect, who has refugee status in Greece and is described by police as a professional boxer, was arrested on Sunday.
Two police officials told Reuters that the suspect denied involvement in the killing during initial questioning. Investigators said he allegedly told police that he found Ross’s body inside the bathroom of an apartment, panicked and later moved it in a suitcase before attempting to dispose of it.
A forensic examination has not yet established the exact cause of death due to the condition of the body. Police sources said investigators have not ruled out possible suffocation.
The suspect’s lawyer, Christos Erdas, said his client had exercised his right to remain silent and would respond to the allegations after reviewing the full case file and available evidence.
Erdas said forensic and toxicology reports had not yet been added to the investigation. He also argued that no visible injuries were identified during the examination of the body and that the exact cause of death remained undetermined.
“The position of my client before the prosecutor and investigating authorities does not mean a refusal to cooperate,” Erdas said, adding that his client wanted to wait until all evidence was available before providing a detailed response.
The case remains under investigation, and Greek authorities have not announced a trial date. The court has not issued any ruling on the allegations, and the suspect remains presumed innocent unless convicted.
