A former British soldier has appeared in a London court, fighting extradition to Kenya where he is accused of murdering a 21-year-old woman whose body was discovered in a septic tank over a decade ago.
Court Appearance and Bail Denial
Robert James Purkiss, 38, originally from Lancashire, stood in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court donning a grey hoodie, with his beard tied in a plait. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring denied the ex-soldier bail, stating he agreed with Kenyan authorities that there was a significant risk Purkiss could cause physical or mental harm to another if released.
Purkiss looked towards his family and nodded upon hearing the decision. His defence barrister, David Josse KC, had argued it was fanciful to suggest his client would flee and not attend future hearings. Purkiss had offered to pay the court a £15,000 security fee, but this was rejected.
A Decade-Old Allegation
Purkiss is alleged to have murdered 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru in Kenya in 2012. The Kenyan director of public prosecutions has stated he is wanted for this alleged crime, but Purkiss does not consent to his extradition to the African nation.
Speaking publicly about the case, Purkiss told the Daily Mail he is innocent. I did not kill Agnes Wanjiru, I do not believe I ever met her either, he said. He claimed he only heard about the incident weeks later while on a military exercise in Canada and only later learned a body had been found in a tank.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and History
Mr Josse informed the same court on November 7 that the former soldier vehemently denies the murder charge and is receiving Ministry of Defence funding to help pay for his defence.
This legal development follows a 2018 inquest in Kenya which concluded that Ms Wanjiru was murdered by British soldiers. Her body was discovered near a British Army base two months after she disappeared.
Purkiss is scheduled to appear next at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a case management hearing on December 9, where the arguments over his potential extradition will continue.
