Ex-British Soldier Arrested for Alleged Murder of Kenyan Woman
PA MediaA former British soldier is facing extradition to Kenya in connection with the alleged murder of a 21-year-old woman there in 2012.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported that Robert James Purkiss was arrested in Tidworth, Wiltshire on 6 November and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court shortly thereafter.
Purkiss was nabbed by the NCA's National Extradition Unit following a warrant issued in September regarding the killing of Agnes Wanjiru. He plans to contest the extradition and is remanded until his next court appearance on 14 November.
The tragic case of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was discovered in a septic tank three months after she vanished on 31 March 2012, has occupied a long history of legal and social battles for her family. Wanjiru had been enjoying a night out at a bar with friends prior to her disappearance, which coincided with the presence of British soldiers in the area.
Following continuous pressure from Wanjiru's family and Kenyan rights groups, an inquest was initiated in 2018, which determined her unlawful killing, attributing it to one or more British soldiers. Recent disclosures have indicated a British soldier reportedly confessed to the crime to his colleagues.
As the case continues to unfold, Wanjiru’s family hopes for a thorough investigation and expedited justice, underscoring an overarching narrative of accountability for actions against vulnerable populations perhaps borne out of military conflict.
