In a Panic, I Put Her in a Suitcase”/ Afghan Man Arrested Over Murder of 38-Year-Old British Woman: What He Told Police and Suspicions About a Mysterious…

The 26-year-old Afghan man arrested over the murder of 38-year-old British woman Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli area of Athens, denies any involvement in the crime.

The suspect appeared in court this Wednesday to give his testimony and is expected to maintain the same line of defense he presented to Greek police.

In a statement given on August 1, he claimed that he did not kill the 38-year-old but found her dead in the apartment where she was temporarily staying.

“When I turned on the lights and walked toward the bathroom, I saw Lisa lying on the floor. Something like water was coming out of her mouth. I called out to her several times, but she did not respond. I froze and was terrified,” he said.

According to his account, instead of notifying the authorities, he fled the apartment in a state of panic.

The Mysterious Elderly Man

The most controversial part of his testimony concerns an elderly man whom the 26-year-old claims he met by chance at a bus stop.

According to him, after he said that he had found a dead person in the apartment, the elderly man advised him to remove the body to avoid trouble with the police.

The accused said that he returned to the apartment the following day, placed the 38-year-old woman’s body in a black suitcase and transported it in his wife’s car to an abandoned building.

He claims that he met the elderly man there again and handed him the suitcase in exchange for a payment he would make later.

He Admits Using the Victim’s Bank Cards and Phone

The 26-year-old also admitted taking the victim’s phone and bank cards.

According to his testimony, he sent messages to the 38-year-old woman’s family to convince them that she was well, while he used the bank cards to withdraw money, which he claims he gave to the elderly man, who was blackmailing him by threatening to report him to the police.

After the incident, he said he went on a trip to Arachova with his wife and child without telling her anything about what had happened.

Greek authorities are continuing their investigation to fully establish the circumstances surrounding the death of the 38-year-old British woman.