An ex-British soldier is contesting extradition proceedings following allegations of being involved in the killing of a young mother while stationed overseas.
Robert Purkiss, aged 38, is accused of fatally stabbing Agnes Wanjuri, 21, and disposing of her partially clothed body in a septic tank. A court order in September mandated his arrest and return to Kenya to face trial for the death of Ms. Wanjuri, sparking a diplomatic dispute between the UK and Kenya over Purkiss and suspected efforts to conceal the alleged crime by military personnel at the foreign base.
The former soldier has broken his silence regarding the potential extradition, asserting his innocence.
Ms. Wanjuri, known to have been engaged in sex work near a military training zone in 2012, where Purkiss and others were stationed for a six-week training exercise between February and April of that year.
Witnesses at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 7 revealed that the Kenyan woman was last seen leaving a hotel in the company of the Brit during a brief soldiers’ break before her body was discovered decomposing in a septic tank.
Purkiss, currently detained in a London jail and denied bail, has refuted claims of confessing to the killing, stating that he vehemently denies the accusations.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Purkiss denied any involvement in the incident, expressing disbelief in ever meeting Ms. Wanjuri. He further disputed allegations of booking a hotel room and pointed out inconsistencies in the accusations against him.
Purkiss argued against extradition to Kenya, labeling it as a “show trial,” while Ms. Wanjuri’s family received support from the UK’s Defence Secretary in their pursuit of justice.
The 21-year-old victim, a new mother, was found near a hotel frequented by off-duty foreign soldiers in 2012, with witness reports suggesting she was last seen with two British troops before her disappearance.
Purkiss’ wife, Kelly, who also served in the Army and has since separated from him due to the case, defended her husband’s innocence.
David Josse KC, representing Purkiss, informed the court that the former soldier is receiving Ministry of Defence funding for his legal defense. Purkiss remains in custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
A 2018 inquest concluded that Ms. Wanjiru was murdered by British soldiers near a British Army base, two months after she went missing.