A former British soldier has appeared in a London court to fight his extradition to Kenya, where he faces a murder charge for the death of a woman more than a decade ago.
The Night Agnes Wanjiru Disappeared
Robert James Purkiss, 38, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, 7th November 2025, to formally contest his transfer. He is charged in Kenya with the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old woman whose decomposed body was discovered in a septic tank 13 years ago.
Prosecutor Joel Smith outlined the case, stating that British soldiers on leave had been heavily drinking at a hotel in Nanyuki on 31st March 2012. The court heard that soldiers were known to pay local women for sex at this establishment, which is near a British army training ground.
Wanjiru had left her baby daughter with a friend that night, saying she was going to "hustle for her daughter." She was never seen alive again after being seen leaving the hotel bar with British soldiers.
Confession and Discovery of the Body
The prosecution alleges that Purkiss confessed to the crime. One soldier reported seeing Purkiss crying that night. "When he was asked why, the defendant said 'I've killed her'," Smith told the court.
Smith further stated that Purkiss told another colleague the death resulted from "sex that went wrong" and subsequently led a soldier to the septic tank to view the body. A postmortem examination suggested the harrowing possibility that Wanjiru may have been alive when she was dumped into the tank.
The Fight for Justice Continues
During the hearing, Purkiss, who is self-employed and works from the home he shares with his wife and two children, shook his head as the evidence was presented. His defence lawyer, David Josse, stated that his client "vehemently denies" the murder charge.
District Judge Briony Clarke rejected a request for Purkiss's release, remanding him into custody until a bail hearing scheduled for 14th November. Wanjiru's family has sought justice for years, and their representative recently met with British Defence Secretary John Healey, who pledged his support following a Nairobi court's arrest order for Purkiss in September.
