A 26-year-old professional boxer from Afghanistan accused of killing a Scottish woman whose remains were discovered inside a suitcase in central Athens last month is set to appear in court on Wednesday, according to two police officials.
Authorities identified the victim as Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, an aid worker who had been reported missing since July 15.
Ross’ body, wrapped in black fabric, was discovered on July 18 inside a green suitcase abandoned at a construction site in the busy Kypseli district of Athens, an area where the suspect resided.
A post-mortem examination was unable to establish the exact cause of death because of decomposition.
However, investigators did not rule out asphyxiation as a possible cause, one police official said.
The suspect, described as a professional boxer by his wife, was born in Afghanistan and had received asylum in Greece. Police officials said he was involved in volunteer activities with Ross before his arrest on Sunday. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, where he will have his first opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The suspect has denied the murder accusations, one official said. He reportedly told investigators that he discovered Ross’ body inside a bathroom of an apartment, panicked, placed it in a suitcase and attempted to dispose of it.
He has been charged with manslaughter, robbery and illegal possession of a firearm after police allegedly found a knife and a replica pistol inside his apartment, the official said. The charges may be amended as the investigation continues.
Police allege that the suspect used Ross’ bank card to withdraw money following her death and may have used her phone to send messages intended to create the impression that she was still alive.
The suspect is expected to appear before a prosecutor at 0700 GMT.
Ross, a certified psychotherapist and volunteer aid worker linked to Christian and refugee support organisations, arrived in Greece on June 29, one of the police officials said.
She first stayed at a friend’s apartment in Piraeus before relocating to a central Athens flat managed by a non-governmental organisation. Police said the suspect and his 28-year-old wife, who is a U.S. citizen, had access to keys for the property.
Ross had planned to return to her friend’s home in Piraeus on July 15. However, people close to her said they had not seen or spoken with her since that day.
