A former British soldier facing extradition to Kenya over the murder of a young woman, whose body was discovered in a septic tank, has been refused bail for a second time by a High Court judge.
Bail Application Rejected Despite Security Offer
Robert James Purkiss was arrested in November and is fighting his removal to the east African nation, where he is wanted in connection with the 2012 killing of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru. He denies any involvement in her death.
On Wednesday, December 17, Ms Justice Norton at the High Court turned down a fresh application for his release on bail. This follows a previous denial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month, where an offer of a £15,000 security fee failed to secure his liberty.
Alleged Confessions and Case Details Presented
The court heard that Purkiss was on a six-week training exercise in early 2012 when he embarked on a 'drinking spree', culminating at the Lions Court hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya. Ms Wanjiru’s body was later found in a nearby septic tank, having suffered stab wounds to the abdomen.
While Purkiss has told the Daily Mail he never met the victim and only learned of the incident weeks later, the court was informed of alleged confessions. Joel Smith KC, representing the Kenyan authorities, stated Purkiss is said to have told a colleague "it was sex that went wrong".
"This cannot be said to be a confession concocted down the line because there are witnesses," Mr Smith argued. "There is a later confession when sober on base. So, not just one confession but two, and contemporaneous." The barrister also referenced social media comments made by Purkiss and colleagues years after the event.
Defence Arguments and Forthcoming Hearing
David Josse KC, defending Purkiss, told the court his client’s wife had been 'thoroughly supportive of him in recent years' and that they were a strong, loving couple. He argued Purkiss was not a flight risk, as he was aware an arrest warrant was imminent but did not attempt to flee.
Despite these submissions, Ms Justice Norton refused the bail application. The defendant is now set to face a four-day extradition hearing scheduled for November 16, 2026.
