Family of Edinburgh aid worker killed in Greece say they feel "deep pain" at her loss

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, known as Lisa, was found in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on July 18 – several days after she was reported missing.

The 38-year-old had been volunteering with a refugee support group in Greece.

Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, a boxer from Afghanistan, appeared in court on Thursday accused of her murder.

In a statement, her family said: "Lisa will always be remembered by us as kind, principled and selfless.

"Her integrity was absolute, and she dedicated her life to helping others in need.

"We are in deep pain, and we ask for time and privacy as we come to terms with our loss."

Earlier on Thursday, lawyers acting for the man accused of killing Elisabeth-Jane Ross asked a court to obtain her medical records from Scotland.

Ahmadzai, 26, who was charged with homicide with intent and weapons and robbery offences, exercised his right to remain silent and did not submit a plea to any of the charges.

His lawyer Christos Erdas said this is because they are waiting for further medical evidence to be submitted to the court.

He said: “The reason for the silence is because we are waiting in the near future for some more documents and evidence to come to the judge.

“All of them are related to medical documents from the doctor who examined Lisa’s body.”

He said the cause of Ms Ross’s death is still yet to be established, and this information is needed before his client will be in a position to submit a plea.

READ MORE: Tributes to woman found dead in Athens - ‘an unstoppable passion’ to help others

Greek police said last week there were no signs of injury or harm on Ms Ross’s body when it was discovered.

They said further tests are being carried out to establish how she died.

Mr Erdas also said they had put in a request for Ms Ross’s own medical records to be obtained from the UK as part of the evidence in the case.

“At the same time we also asked the judge to order the communication with the authorities in Scotland and the UK, to get all the medical papers for Lisa,” he said.

Ahmadzai, who was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges, is also facing allegations that he stole more than 10,000 euro (£8,500) from Ms Ross’s bank accounts using her bank cards.

The judge ordered Ahmadzai to be kept in pre-trial detention ahead of another hearing at a future date.

The 26-year-old was then escorted back into the car by masked officers shortly before 2pm, before being driven off the premises.

The court complex is located on the city’s Evelpidon Street, a short walk from the derelict building where the charity worker’s body was found.

Floral tributes have been placed on the ground next to the structure, with one card containing the words “Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Rest in peace” written in Greek.

Police said the suspect was detained for questioning after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage recorded nearby.

After allegedly killing Ms Ross, Ahmadzai is accused of sending a series of messages from her phone to her friends and family before switching off the device.

He is then said to have bought another phone and texted her friends in Athens, including his wife, impersonating an unnamed jihadist saying he had killed the Scot because of her religion, Greek newspapers Proto Thema and Ta Nea reported.

The newspapers said his wife, a US citizen named Alaina Hall, told the police she suspected her husband’s involvement in the killing when she woke up to find he was not in their apartment and tracked his phone to where Ms Ross was staying.

Ms Ross is believed to have died a number of days before she was found, during which time temperatures reached 36C.

Authorities were able to identify her using fingerprints.

Ms Ross travelled to Greece on June 26 and was initially staying with friends in Piraeus, a port area of Athens.

She is then said to have gone to meet American friends in another part of the Greek capital, but it is unclear if this ever happened.

Authorities are awaiting the results of tissue analysis to determine whether she died from suffocation, as suggested by a preliminary assessment by the medical examiner.

Ms Ross had been a member of City on a Hill church, in Edinburgh, for 20 years.

Peter Anderson, a pastor, previously said she was a “precious” member of the congregation.

“It’s been a really tough week for our church,” Mr Anderson said.

“We have lost a precious church member, Lisa. She was a member of our church for 20 years, and a very, very precious girl, and it’s a real tragic loss.”

He described her as having a “big passion” for missionary work.

“Lisa’s life was actually all about mission,” Mr Anderson said.

“She served people and she cared for people all over the world.”

Locals in the vibrant Kypseli district have spoken of the impact Ms Ross’ death has had on those living and working there.

Khalil Jebali, 29, has lived on Aiginis Street for the last four years, having moved to Greece from Tunisia about five years ago.

He said: “It was pretty devastating when the crime took place and we heard that they found a dead body there, because I play tennis right across from where they found the body.

“I was extremely devastated for the death of the woman, and every time I hear about these tragic events all I think of is the fear that that person was feeling when it took place.

“They’re dead. They’re not going to come back. But the fear is the worst part of someone being murdered.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said earlier: “Our thoughts are with Elisabeth’s family during this difficult time.

“We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson previously said: “We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.

“Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland.”