- A former British soldier accused of killing Agnes Wanjiru in 2012 has been arrested in England
- The suspect was brought before a London court and vowed to resist efforts to bring him back to Kenya to face trial
- His arrest followed a warrant issued in Nairobi, sparking a legal dispute that could test relations between the two nations.
- For Wanjiru’s family, the breakthrough revived hope in a case that had gone unsolved for more than a decade
A former British soldier accused of killing young Agnes Wanjiru in 2012 has been arrested in England.
Source: UGC
His arrest sets in motion an extradition battle that could test the diplomatic and military ties shared for years between London and Nairobi.
Was the killer of Agnes Wanjiru arrested?
Robert James Purkiss was arrested in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on Thursday, November 6, by special officers from the National Crime Agency’s National Transfer Unit.
According to the NCA, the arrest of the 38-year-old man followed a warrant issued by a court in Nairobi in September, seeking his extradition to Kenya for the murder of the 21-year-old man.
Purkiss appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Friday, November 7, where he told the court that he would oppose the transfer.
The court denied him bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations, and ordered him to remain in custody until his next hearing on Friday, November 14.
“A British ex-soldier wanted by Kenyan authorities in connection with an alleged murder in 2012 has been arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA). He was remanded in custody until he next appears in the same court on November 14,” NCA reported.
What did Agnes Wanjiru’s family say?
For Wanjiru’s family, the arrest of the former soldier marks a turning point in a decade-long struggle for justice.
His niece, Esther Njoki, showed a cautious calm after the court session.
“My family is very relieved to hear that the suspect in my aunt’s case has been arrested. We have waited for many years for this moment which marks an important step towards finally getting justice for our beloved Agnes,” Njoki said.
Tessa Gregory, a partner at the Leigh Day law firm representing the Wanjiru family, described the development as a “huge moment” for the family which has fought tirelessly for more than a decade. “We hope that the British and Kenyan authorities will now cooperate to ensure that the suspect can face trial in Kenya as soon as possible,” he said.
What happened to Agnes Wanjiru?
According to prosecutors, Purkiss served as a medic in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and was working Nanyukiwhere the British Army has a long-term training base.
On the night of March 31, 2012, Wanjiru was last seen dancing with British soldiers at the Lion’s Court Hotel, where many soldiers were staying during training.
Two months later, his decomposing body was found in a sewage tank inside the hotel premises.
An autopsy showed that he had stab wounds to the chest and abdomen and may have been alive when he was thrown into the tank.
Home Office lawyer Joel Smith KC told the court that Purkiss allegedly admitted to fellow soldiers that “it was sex gone wrong.”
One soldier claimed Purkiss showed him Wanjiru’s body in a sewage tank, while others said they heard him admit that he had killed him.
Source: UGC
Smith described how soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment frequented bars and hotels in Nanyuki during their duty hours, often engaging in heavy drinking and sexual encounters with local women.
He added that Facebook messages sent years later between former soldiers contained clear references to the killings.
One message, shared with a photo of the hotel, read “If you know, you know,” to which Purkiss reportedly responded with a smiley face emoji.
Purkiss’ lawyer, David Josse, told the court that his client strongly denies the murder and intends to fight for his extradition.
He claimed that Purkiss had been aware of the allegations since 2021 but continued to cooperate with authorities, even obtaining legal representation through the Ministry of Defence.
How old is Agnes Wanjiru’s daughter?
Earlier, Njoki explained how Wanjiru’s daughter, who was only five months old at the time of the incident, is now 13 years old and “suffers” mentally every time the case appears in the media.
The family said no investigation report was shared with them, and they plan to take the matter to the UK within two months if the Kenyan authorities do not act.
British Defense Minister John Healey told the family that he was still committed to solving the case and pledged Britain’s support to Kenyan investigative authorities.
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