Afghan boxer appears for second hearing in Athens court

Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, was brought back to an Athens courtroom on Thursday morning, following his earlier appearance in early July. The boxer stands accused of murder with intent, robbery and illegal possession of weapons.

The charges stem from the death of Elisabeth Ross, 38, a Scottish aid worker found dead in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on 18 July. Ross, who had been volunteering with a refugee support group, is believed to have died a few days before her body was discovered.

Police say Ahmadzai stole more than €10,000 from Ross’s bank accounts using her cards and that he sent a series of messages from her phone to her friends and family, later switching off the device. He reportedly impersonated a name‑yoked jihadist in those messages.

While he initially faced charges of illegal weapons possession, the case has broadened to include robbery and the alleged murder. Greek policing union officials report that he admitted to moving the body but denies the homicide allegations.

At the Thursday hearing, Ahmadzai was assigned a court‑appointed lawyer and given time to prepare his defence. The proceedings will now examine evidence linking the boxer to the theft, the phone messages and the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death. The case remains a high‑profile example of cross‑border criminal investigations involving European courts and nationals abroad.