Agnes Wanjiru Murder: Ex-British Soldier ‘Said It Was Sex That Went Wrong’

Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has welcomed the arrest and detention of former British soldier Robert James Purkiss, who is accused of murdering Agnes Wanjiru more than a decade ago.

A judge ordered the 38-year-old to remain in custody following his arrest on Thursday, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed. Kenyan authorities have been seeking Purkiss over the 2012 killing of Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother of a then four-month-old baby, whose death has long strained diplomatic ties between Nairobi and London.

Wanjiru’s body was discovered two months after she was reported missing, hidden inside a septic tank at a Nanyuki hotel where she had last been seen partying with British soldiers. The town, located in central Kenya, hosts a permanent British Army Training Unit (BATUK) garrison.

The ODPP hailed Purkiss’s detention as a “significant development”, crediting the milestone to an “extensive and coordinated effort” between Kenyan and British authorities.

In a statement shared on X, the ODPP said it “reiterates its unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for Agnes Wanjiru and her family, in collaboration with international partners, to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable.”

In September, the Nairobi High Court had issued an arrest warrant for Purkiss, prompting prosecutors to begin extradition proceedings. According to reports by the Press Association, Purkiss appeared in court on Friday, where he refused to consent to extradition.

The judge denied his bail request and directed him to return to court on November 14.

Home Office lawyer Joel Smith KC said Purkiss had allegedly shown a fellow soldier a body in a septic tank and told a colleague “it was sex that went wrong”.

“Two other soldiers have told military police that they recall (the soldier) mentioning that confession that night,” Smith told the court.

Smith added that other soldiers exist who “deny hearing reports of that confession”.

The Home Office lawyer also told the court about Facebook messages that former members of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment shared in 2018. One of the soldiers posted a picture of himself outside the Lions Court Hotel with the comment: “If you know you know,” the court heard.

The soldier also referenced the septic tank, Smith said.

The court heard that Purkiss, a married father of two, sent a “smiling face emoji” in response, and when a group member asked him “Do you get choked up?”, he replied: “Come to think of it, I have had a sore throat today.”

The lawyer representing Agnes Wanjiru’s family, Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory, said: “This is a huge moment for our client and her family who have been fighting for over a decade to obtain justice for Agnes. We hope the UK and Kenyan authorities will now work together to ensure that the suspect can face trial in Kenya as quickly as possible.”

Agnes Wanjiru’s niece, Esther Njoki said: “My family is incredibly relieved to hear that the suspect in my aunt’s case has been arrested. We have waited so many years for this moment, which marks an important step towards finally obtaining justice for our beloved Agnes.”

Purkiss’s lawyer David Josse said that his client “vehemently denies” murder and that he has received funding from the UK’s Ministry of Defence to pay for his defence.

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