Former UK Serviceman Charged of Killing Kenyan Woman Appears in Courtroom

A man has appeared in court as extradition proceedings started in the legal matter of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman who was found dead near a UK military installation in the year 2012.

Robert Purkiss, 38 years old, who is originally from Greater Manchester region, appeared before the Westminster court on the last Friday, and told the court he would challenge the extradition request. It is understood that he was taken into custody on the evening of Thursday.

A detention order for Purkiss was released by a Nairobi court in September. The state attorneys informed the Kenyan judiciary that Purkiss had been facing a one count, of killing, and that the government of Kenya would pursue his extradition to stand trial.

Purkiss previously worked as a medical attendant with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the infantry regiment for the northwestern England, including on tours of Afghanistan.

Wanjiru, 21 years old, a hair stylist who had a baby daughter, went missing after a evening out, and her remains was located 60 days later in the grounds of the hotel where she had previously spotted.

Nobody had earlier been arrested or charged in connection to her death. His detention followed a recent detective probe, which followed a article in 2021 by a weekly publication, in which the newspaper approached several current and former soldiers in the unit.

The probe has been led by investigators from Kenya, which, under a bilateral security treaty, retains jurisdiction in the legal case.