The aunt of an American woman who married the Afghan migrant accused of murdering a British charity worker and stuffing her body in a suitcase has revealed her family never wanted them to tie the knot, according to a report.
Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, was arrested over the alleged murder of Elisabeth-Jane Ross in Greece before her body was ditched in a suitcase in an abandoned Athens building.
In 2016, Ahmadzai, a professional boxer from Afghanistan, arrived on a people smuggler’s boat to the Greek island of Lesvos — where he later met American Alaina Hall.
Sharif Ahmadzai and Alaina Hall in an undated photo. David X Spg / Facebook
Hall, now 28, of Ringgold, Georgia, set up a ministry for refugees in Athens with Ahmadzai, and the pair married in 2023 after he converted to Christianity. They reportedly have a child together.
But Hall’s paternal aunt reportedly said her brother, pilot Thomas Hall, 65, and sister-in-law Susan, 61, had doubts about who their child decided to marry.
“I’ve never met [Ahmadzai], I’ve only heard about him. But I can tell you my brother and sister-in-law never wanted them to get married,” Leanne Hall told the Daily Mail.
Hall is believed to have contacted the cops over her husband after allegedly becoming suspicious of his sudden influx of cash, the Guardian reported.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross was found dead in a suitcase that was left in an abandoned building in Athens. Elisabeth-Jane Ross/Facebook
It comes as Greek authorities said they believe Ahmadzai allegedly murdered Ross, a charity worker and missionary from Scotland, following a possible attempted mugging or sexual assault.
“We believe there was a confrontation,” a law enforcement source told the Daily Mail.
“But was that spurred by Ross discovering the Afghan rummaging through her things and stealing her credit cards, or was it a case of sexual assault or the Briton spurning his advances?” the source added.
A view of the Acropolis and the Monastiraki quarter from above is seen in Athens. jekatarinka – stock.adobe.com
Ross arrived in Athens from Edinburgh on June 26, initially staying with friends before moving into an apartment in the Exarchia district of the city on July 10, according to police.
The property is reportedly connected to Ahmadzai and Hall’s refugee charity network.
On the evening of July 15, Ross made what became her final phone call.
CCTV footage allegedly shows Sharif Ahmadzai dragging a large, black suitcase in Greece. iefimerida.gr
On the night of July 16, security footage allegedly shows Ahmadzai lugging a suitcase from the Exarchia apartment complex to an abandoned building some two miles away.
Subsequent text messages were sent from Ross’ phone to family and friends over the following days as part of what police say was a deliberate ploy to delay the missing person investigation.
Ross’ body was found by a homeless man in the suitcase inside the derelict building in the Kypseli district on July 18.
Suitcase murder suspect Sharif Ahmadzai and Alaina Hall, in an undated photo. David X Spg / Facebook
Cops allege Ahmadzai withdrew the equivalent of $11,500 using Ross’ stolen bank cards, causing his wife, Hall, to become suspicious of his sudden cash flow and movements.
Hall called Greek police and handed over cash he had allegedly given her before moving into a hotel.
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Following three days of interrogation, Ahmadzai was officially arrested and accused of homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses on Sunday.
On Monday, authorities revealed that Ahmadzai allegedly admitted to carrying Ross’ body to the abandoned building and using her bank cards, as reported by the Guardian.
However, he denies killing her.
Ahmadzai is due in court on Wednesday, where an Athens magistrate will formally charge him.