British soldier murdered Agnes Wanjiru
A former British soldier has been taken into custody and brought before a London court as he battles extradition to Kenya, where he faces murder charges linked to the death of Agnes Wanjiru. Her body was discovered in a septic tank 13 years ago.
The man in question is 38-year-old Robert James Purkiss. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 7, aiming to contest his extradition to Kenya.
Purkiss is accused of murdering Wanjiru, who was just 21 years old at the time and was last seen in March 2012, leaving a hotel bar in Nanyuki alongside British soldiers.
Prosecutor Joel Smith stated that Purkiss allegedly confessed to fellow soldiers about killing Wanjiru.
“When he was asked why he was crying, the defendant said, ‘I’ve killed her,” Smith told the court.
Another soldier recounted in court that Purkiss later referred to the incident as a case of sex gone wrong, and he allegedly led a colleague to the septic tank where Wanjiru’s body was concealed.
A post-mortem report from years back revealed that Wanjiru had suffered beatings and stab wounds, and there’s a possibility she was still alive when she was discarded in the tank.
In September 2025, a Kenyan court issued an arrest warrant formally seeking the extradition of the former soldier.
Britain’s National Crime Agency confirmed that he was apprehended by specialized officers following the issuance of the warrant.
His lawyer, David Josse, stated that Purkiss, who resides in the UK with his wife and two children, ‘strongly denies’ the allegations. It was reported that Purkiss did not enter a plea during the court session and shook his head as the prosecution laid out the evidence.
The court denied a request for Purkiss’ release, keeping him in custody until a bail hearing set for November 14, 2025.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Wanjiru’s family receives justice.
British soldier murdered Agnes Wanjiru
