A former British soldier wanted in Kenya over the murder of a young woman near a British army training camp more than a decade ago was denied bail in London on Monday as he faces extradition proceedings.
Robert Purkiss is accused of killing 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru near a British army base in Nanyuki in 2012. Kenyan authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in September.
Purkiss, who was detained earlier this month and remains in custody, “vigorously denies” any role in Wanjiru’s death, his lawyers told Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Lawyers acting for the Kenyan authorities said fellow soldiers allege Purkiss confessed to the killing on the night Wanjiru died and again shortly afterwards.
Wanjiru’s murder has long strained relations between Britain and Kenya. Her family and human rights groups say those responsible were protected for years under a defence cooperation agreement that complicated efforts to prosecute British soldiers training in Kenya.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said in September it remained committed to helping Wanjiru’s family secure justice.
EX-SOLDIER WANTED OVER 2012 KILLING
Wanjiru’s body was discovered in a septic tank at the Lion’s Court Hotel in Nanyuki in June 2012. She had last been seen with a group of British soldiers on the night of March 31–April 1, 2012.
Joel Smith, representing Kenyan prosecutors, told the court that Wanjiru had gone to the hotel with two friends, leaving her baby daughter in the care of a friend.
“At about two o’clock in the morning, Ms Wanjiru left with one of the soldiers and as she left (told her friends) she was going to hustle for her daughter,” Smith said. “She was never seen alive again.”
Smith said Purkiss later showed one soldier the septic tank where Wanjiru’s body was eventually found and separately told another soldier he had killed her after “sex that went wrong”.
Purkiss’ lawyer, David Josse, argued there was “no logical basis” to conclude his client would abscond if released on bail.
However, Judge Paul Goldspring ordered that Purkiss remain in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for next month. As he was led back to the cells, Purkiss nodded towards his wife and brother watching from the public gallery.