Former UK Soldier Accused of Murdering Kenyan Woman Appears in Courtroom

A man has appeared in court as extradition proceedings started in the investigation of the victim Agnes Wanjiru, a woman of Kenyan origin who was murdered near a British army base in 2012.

Purkiss, 38 years old, who is hailing from Greater Manchester region, was presented at the Westminster court on Friday, and stated to the court he intended to contest the deportation. Reports indicate that he was arrested on Thursday night.

A warrant for arrest for the defendant was issued by a Nairobi court in September. The prosecution told the Kenyan court that Purkiss had been charged with a sole charge, of killing, and that the Kenyan authorities would seek his extradition to answer to accusations.

The defendant previously worked as a army medic with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the infantry regiment for the English northwest, including on tours of Afghanistan.

Agnes Wanjiru, 21, a beautician who had a baby daughter, went missing after a night out, and her body was found after two months in the grounds of the lodging where she had previously spotted.

Not a single person had earlier been detained or accused in association with her demise. The arrest of Purkiss followed a recent detective probe, which was initiated after a exposé in the year 2021 by a Sunday newspaper, in which the publication reached out to several active and retired troops in the unit.

The probe has been led by Kenyan detectives, which, under a mutual defense pact, holds legal authority in the legal case.