New evidence has emerged in the suitcase murder case in Kypseli, with Greek police reportedly convinced that the 26-year-old Afghan national arrested over the killing is responsible for the death of a British woman found inside a suitcase in Athens.
According to Greek media reports, the victim’s mobile phone played a key role in the investigation. Police found that the device began being used after the woman’s death, before it was switched off on Wednesday morning. Its final location signal was traced to Arachova.
Investigators then analysed CCTV footage and tracked the movements of the person using the phone, eventually linking it to a shared accommodation-style residence in Kypseli.
Witness testimony points to suspect
At the residence, police identified another British woman who was reportedly in a relationship with the 26-year-old suspect.
According to reports, she initially told investigators that she had been with the suspect in Arachova. However, authorities later determined that the suspect had realised police were searching for him.
The woman allegedly told investigators that the 26-year-old admitted killing the British woman, claiming the victim had repeatedly spoken to him about Christianity and attempted to influence him religiously.
Following this disclosure, the suspect disappeared briefly before being located and arrested.
Suspect denies killing woman
After his arrest, the suspect reportedly claimed that he entered the apartment and found the British woman dead. He said he panicked and decided to hide the body by placing it inside a suitcase to avoid becoming involved in the case.
He admitted, however, that he took the victim’s bank card and withdrew money from her account.
The forensic examiner handling the case has reportedly assessed that the evidence points to a criminal act, with suffocation considered the most likely cause of death. Toxicology results are still pending.
Investigation traces victim’s final movements
According to the police report, the British woman arrived in Greece on 29 June from Edinburgh. She had spent years volunteering with churches and humanitarian organisations in several countries and was described by people close to her as calm, generous and non-confrontational.
From 2 July, she lived in a ground-floor apartment in Exarchia, where the suspect and his partner also had access.
The woman’s last confirmed sign of life was recorded at 21:41 on 15 July, when she spoke by phone with someone close to her. Afterwards, friends and relatives noticed that messages sent from her phone appeared different in style and language, leading investigators to believe someone else was using the device.
On 19 July, the victim’s phone was activated in Arachova, where telecommunications data and CCTV footage allegedly placed the suspect with his wife and child.
CCTV shows suitcase movements
Police have also focused on video footage collected during the investigation.
According to the case file, the suspect was recorded on the night of 16 July arriving by car at Rethymnou Street and leaving while carrying a large suitcase.
Later, at 22:43, security cameras allegedly captured him walking along Evelpidon Street carrying the suitcase containing the victim’s body, as well as a blue bag of unknown contents.
Thirteen minutes later, he was reportedly seen leaving the area without the suitcase or the bag, carrying only a light-coloured backpack.
Investigators believe the evidence creates a sequence of events showing the suspect’s movements after the woman’s death and an alleged attempt to remove traces that could reveal what happened.
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