Afghan suspect sent misleading messages after Briton’s death, claimed religious motive

A 27-year-old Afghan man accused of murdering a British woman whose body was found inside a suitcase in Athens’ Kypseli district allegedly tried to mislead investigators by sending fake text messages after the crime.

According to Greek media reports, after the woman’s mobile phone was switched off, the suspect obtained a different phone number and sent messages to people who knew the victim, to his wife and even to himself. In the messages, he allegedly claimed to be a jihadist who had killed the woman because of her religion.

Investigators believe the messages were intended to divert the police investigation towards an unknown sender. However, homicide detectives quickly identified the suspect’s alleged involvement and arrested him.

According to the investigation, the suspect was born a Muslim but later converted to Protestantism after meeting his wife. Reports indicate that he has since embraced Christianity.

Mobile phone evidence proved crucial

The victim arrived in Greece from Edinburgh on 29 June and had a long history of volunteering with churches and humanitarian organisations. Friends described her as a calm, generous and non-confrontational person.

She had been staying in a ground-floor apartment in Exarchia since 2 July. The accused and his partner also had keys to the property.

His wife told investigators that shortly after midnight on 16 July she realised he was missing and, using a shared location feature, discovered he was at the victim’s apartment.

The victim was last known to be alive at 9:41pm on 15 July, when she spoke by phone with someone close to her. Afterwards, relatives and friends noticed that messages sent from her phone had a different writing style and that she had suddenly become isolated.

Investigators believe the phone was being used by someone else to create the false impression that the woman was still alive.

On 19 July, the victim’s phone was activated in Arachova, where telecommunications data and CCTV footage allegedly placed the suspect together with his wife and child.

Wife raised suspicions

Investigators also consider the suspect’s wife’s testimony significant.

She told police that she began suspecting her husband’s involvement after authorities officially identified the victim on 30 July.

She left their home with their infant child and moved to a hotel. According to the case file, the suspect later gave her €2,550 and had bought her a new iPhone 17 Pro shortly after the woman’s disappearance.

Believing both the money and the phone may have originated from the victim’s property, she handed them over to police.

CCTV tracks suspect’s movements

CCTV footage has also become a key part of the investigation.

On the evening of 16 July, cameras allegedly captured the suspect arriving by car at the apartment in Rethymnou Street before leaving with a large suitcase.

Later, at 10:43pm, CCTV recorded him walking along Evelpidon Street carrying the suitcase, which investigators believe contained the victim’s body, along with a blue bag of unknown contents.

Thirteen minutes later, he was seen leaving the area without either the suitcase or the bag, carrying only a light-coloured backpack.

Police believe the evidence forms a detailed timeline of the suspect’s movements and the alleged attempt to conceal the crime.

Also read: Athens: Alleged religious motive behind British woman’s death
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