A former British soldier is facing extradition to Kenya in connection with the alleged murder of a 21-year-old woman in 2012.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has stated that Robert James Purkiss was apprehended in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on November 6 and subsequently appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
According to the agency, specialist officers from the NCA’s National Extradition Unit made the arrest following the issuance of a warrant in September, related to the killing of Agnes Wanjiru.
Mr. Purkiss, 38, informed the court of his intention to contest the extradition and was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to reappear at the same court on November 14.
His legal representatives have told the court that he “vehemently denies” the charge of murder.
The body of Ms. Wanjiru was discovered in a septic tank near a hotel in Nanyuki, approximately 124 miles (200km) north of Nairobi, three months after her disappearance on March 31, 2012. At the time, she was the mother of a five-month-old child.
The location where her body was found was in proximity to a British army training camp. Reports indicate that on the night of her death, she had been at a bar with friends, where British soldiers were also present.
Esther Njoki, Ms. Wanjiru’s niece, met with the UK’s defense minister last month to advocate for Mr. Purkiss’s extradition.
In a statement released on Friday through Leigh Day, the legal firm representing Ms. Wanjiru’s family, Ms. Njoki expressed, “My family is incredibly relieved to hear that the suspect in my aunt’s case has been arrested.”
“We have waited so many years for this moment, which marks an important step towards finally obtaining justice for our beloved Agnes.”
Tessa Gregory, a partner at Leigh Day, stated, “This is a huge moment for our client and her family, who have been fighting for over a decade to obtain justice for Agnes.”
“We hope the UK and Kenyan authorities will now work together to ensure that the suspect can face trial in Kenya as quickly as possible.”
Ms. Wanjiru’s family has long alleged a cover-up by the British army regarding her death and criticized the Kenyan authorities for their initial handling of the investigation.
An inquest into her death was initiated in 2018 following sustained pressure from Ms. Wanjiru’s family, along with Kenyan rights groups and feminist organizations.
The inquest concluded in 2019 that Ms. Wanjiru was unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers and that she had suffered stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.
In 2021, a Sunday Times investigation reported a confession by a British soldier to colleagues that he had killed Ms. Wanjiru. The soldier reportedly left the army following the incident and continued to reside in the UK.
In 2024, the army announced an internal review into the conduct of British soldiers in Kenya, including in Nanyuki.
The review uncovered 35 suspected cases of soldiers engaging in sexual exploitation and abuse, including transactional sex, with local women – nine of which occurred after the army officially banned such conduct in 2022.
Two charities say more needs to be done to help victims of sexual assault.
Jean Macdonald and her sister were invited to the unveiling of the new memorial at Alrewas.
Michael Webber’s jail term may be reviewed to see if it was too lenient says the Attorney General.
The UK government says it’s confident of allied interest in buying Wales-built Ajax armoured vehicle.
Twenty-five helicopters fly in a tight, single-file formation in a showcase of Nato strength.