Man charged with killing Scottish aid worker in Greece

An Afghan boxer has been charged with killing Scottish aid worker Elisabeth Ross in Greece.

Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has been charged with homicide with intent, alongside robbery and weapons offences.

The body of Ross, who was 38, was discovered in a suitcase by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on 18 July.

Ahmadzai was remanded in custody until his trial, which could take up to 18 months. During the hearing he asked for an English translator but did not respond to the charges.

Ahmadzai arrived in court in Athens on Thursday morning in an unmarked Grey car. He was escorted out with masked officers holding his head down.

On Wednesday, he was assigned a court-appointed lawyer and given time to prepare his defence.

Ahmadzai was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges and is facing a charge of homicide with intent, as well as allegations that he stole more than €10,000 (£8,500) from the victim's bank accounts using her bank cards.

Homicide with intent is equivalent to a murder charge in Scots law.

A statement from the police's organised crime directorate said Ahmadzai was brought to a police station on 30 July.

"In particular, it emerged that the 26-year-old placed the body in a suitcase and transported it to the abandoned site," the statement said.