A recent news digest highlights two deeply disturbing UK-linked criminal cases, detailing the tragic murder of a Scottish woman abroad and the shocking conviction of a Fife woman who repeatedly poisoned a toddler.
1. The Athens Suitcase Murder
An Afghan professional boxer has been formally charged following an intensive investigation into the grim discovery of a British woman’s body in Greece.
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A Gruesome Discovery: The body of 38-year-old Scottish woman Elisabeth-Jane Ross was found concealed inside a suitcase by a homeless man in a derelict building in central Athens, weeks after she was initially reported missing.
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The Suspect’s Actions: Authorities accused 26-year-old boxer Sharif Ahmadzai of the killing. Prosecutors allege that following her death, Ahmadzai unlawfully used Ross’s bank card to withdraw cash and deliberately sent threatening text messages to manipulate the timeline and deflect police suspicion away from himself.
2. The Antidepressant Poisoning Case
In a separate domestic case, a Scottish woman was handed a severe judicial penalty for the prolonged and severe medical abuse of a young infant.
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A Wicked Crime: Laura Docherty, 35, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh to a minimum of six years under an Order of Lifelong Restriction for attempting to murder a two-year-old child. She repeatedly dosed the toddler with dangerous unprescribed adult medications, including the antidepressant Amitriptyline and powerful painkillers.
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Lack of Remorse: The presiding judge condemned Docherty’s actions as “breathtakingly wicked” and entirely reckless. Court officials noted her complete lack of remorse and highlighted her disturbing behavior throughout the ordeal, which included posting social media videos from court while the medical realities of the toddler—who suffered seizures and required life-saving emergency resuscitation—were laid bare.
