Former British Soldier Accused of Agnes Wanjiru Murder Arrested
A former British soldier has been arrested and arraigned in a London court as he fights extradition to Kenya, where he is charged with murder in the death of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was discovered in a septic tank thirteen years ago.
The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Robert James Purkiss. On November 7, he went before Westminster Magistrates’ Court to dispute his transfer to Kenya.
Purkiss is suspected of killing Wanjiru, who was 21 years old at the time and was last seen in March 2012, leaving a hotel bar in Nanyuki with British troops.
Purkiss confessed to fellow soldiers about killing Wanjiru, according to prosecutor Joel Smith.
“When he was asked why he was crying, the defendant said, ‘I’ve killed her,” Smith told the court.
Ex-British soldier Robert James Purkiss has been arrested in connection with the killing of Agnes Manjiru after a warrant was issued. He has been remanded into custody ahead of his next appearance in court on 14 November. https://t.co/JTe92rxm3z https://t.co/bZGrmcdow5 pic.twitter.com/DzcZmxf9N1
— Melissa Sigodo (@melissasigodo) November 7, 2025
Another soldier said in court that Purkiss later portrayed the encounter as sex gone wrong and allegedly took a colleague to the septic tank where Wanjiru’s body was hidden.
A post-mortem report conducted years ago suggested that Wanjiru had been battered and stabbed and may have been still alive when she was placed in the tank.
In September 2025, a Kenyan court issued an arrest warrant, formally requesting the former soldier’s extradition.
Following the warrant’s issuance, he was apprehended by specialist police, according to the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom.
According to his lawyer, David Josse, Purkiss, who lives in the United Kingdom with his wife and two children, ‘vehemently denies’ the claims.
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Reportedly, Purkiss did not enter a plea during the court session and shook his head as the prosecution outlined the evidence.
The court denied a request for Purkiss’ release, remanding him in custody until a bail hearing scheduled for November 14, 2025.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence maintained that it is committed to ensuring that Wanjiru’s family finds justice.
Former British Soldier Accused of Agnes Wanjiru Murder Arrested
