Afghan murder suspect ‘was cleaner in building where Brit found dead in suitcase was staying’ in Athens

AN AFGHAN suspect arrested over the death of a Brit woman was reportedly a cleaner in the building where she was staying. Elisabeth Ross, 38, was found stuffed inside a suitcase at an abandoned building in central Athens two weeks ago. After a major manhunt, Greek cops said they had detained a 26-year-old Afghan man “for intentional homicide, robbery and violation of the law [regarding] weapons”. The suspect claimed the Scotswoman was already dead when he found her, but police have been working on the theory that Elisabeth was killed in the flat. George Kalliakmanis, the president of the Attica Police Officers’ Union, told The Times: “[The suspect] and his wife worked as the cleaners of the building where Elisabeth lived. “He allegedly killed her, took her bank card, and put her body in a suitcase or a box. He then transported it to the abandoned building using a trolley. Read more on this story “Once there, he realised the suitcase he had used would likely contain his fingerprints, so he transferred the body into a second suitcase, trying to be more careful to avoid leaving prints.” The possibility Elisabeth was suffocated is being “seriously contemplated” given the lack of evident injuries on her body, a well placed source told the Sun. Police found a replica pistol and a knife in a raid of the suspect‘s home, which is a ten-minute walk from the derelict block where Elisabeth’s body was found. He was reportedly identified on CCTV using her credit cards to withdraw money from ATMs. Most read in The Sun Cops were able to find fingerprints and track the suspect down to Arachova, a mountain village in central Greece. Elisabeth’s phone was used to send messages and mislead her loved ones until her identity was made public on July 29. Her dad, a lawyer from Edinburgh, said he received texts for up to two weeks after her death. Messages sent to family and friends claimed that she needed to take some time for herself and wanted to be alone for a while. A Facebook post announcing that she was going to travel to Turkey was made on July 24, six days after her body was found, according to the Mail. Elisabeth arrived in the Greek capital on a flight from Edinburgh on June 26. A Greek couple who Elisabeth was staying with in Keratsini told cops she was going to stay with some Americans she knew in Kypseli. But cops later revealed that they believed she used it as a cover story to visit the homeless community in central Athens without worrying her friends. Elisabeth, known as Lisa, was reportedly seen chatting to homeless people close to an abandoned car park where they take drugs, drink and sleep rough. She was a regular traveller to Greece and volunteered for One Heart – a charity which provides medical help for refugees from Afghanistan and Iran. Her aunt, Anne Bangham, described her as a “beautiful loving and kind young lady”. Greek authorities said her cause of death could be revealed in “days” as they fast-track crucial tests. Tests on blood, urine and vital organ tissues will be key to determine if foul play was involved. 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 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.”