Former Soldier Breaks Silence from Prison Cell
Robert Purkiss, a 38-year-old former British soldier, has broken his long-standing silence to publicly declare his innocence in the murder of a young Kenyan mother, a case that has sparked a furious diplomatic row between the UK and Kenya. From his remand cell in a London prison, Purkiss gave an exclusive interview to the Daily Mail, vehemently denying any involvement in the death of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru.
The former Lancashire Regiment corporal, now an IT consultant from Wiltshire, is fighting extradition to Kenya after a court there ordered his arrest to face trial. He told magistrates he 'vehemently denies' the allegation of murdering Ms Wanjiru, whose part-naked body was discovered in a septic tank in June 2012, three months after she disappeared.
A Decade-Long Wait for Justice
The case dates back to the night of March 31, 2012, when troops from Purkiss’s unit, Arnhem Company, Second Battalion the Lancashire Regiment, were socialising in a hotel popular with off-duty soldiers in Nanyuki, 124 miles north of Nairobi. According to police reports, Ms Wanjiru, a mother-of-one who worked as a prostitute near the British training base, was last seen accompanied by two soldiers entering hotel room D1.
A night guard and a guest reported hearing a woman screaming. The brutal nature of Ms Wanjiru’s death—she suffered stab wounds to the abdomen and chest—shook the local community and caused nationwide outrage in Kenya. An inquest in 2019 concluded she had been unlawfully killed by British soldiers.
The allegations against Purkiss claim he confessed to the murder, allegedly joking with colleagues on their journey back to base that he killed ‘a brass’ because ‘the sex was bad’. However, Purkiss completely refutes this. ‘I did not kill Agnes Wanjiru, I do not believe I ever met her either,’ he stated. ‘Neither would I joke about killing a woman - that conversation has no basis in reality.’
The Evidence and a Key Witness
In the absence of forensic evidence such as a murder weapon, bloodied clothes, or direct witnesses to the killing, the Kenyan extradition bid relies heavily on the account of another soldier, Liam Hendry. Purkiss is alleged to have brought Hendry, then also a soldier in 2 Lancs, to see Ms Wanjiru’s body.
Purkiss has challenged this, describing Hendry as a heavy drinker with a reputation for telling tales. It can be revealed that Hendry, now 35, became a drug addict after leaving the Army and has been jailed several times for prolific shoplifting. In a 2024 court hearing, his solicitor, Damien Pickup, seemingly referenced the Kenya incident, stating: ‘Something happened in Kenya which caused him a lot of anguish and he left the Army.’
A second witness, William Nelson, provided a statement saying he overheard Purkiss and Hendry joking about ‘killing a brass’ in a drunken conversation, though he did not claim to have seen the body.
Families Torn Apart by the Allegations
The case has been traumatic for both families. Ms Wanjiru’s niece, Esther Njoki, has campaigned tirelessly for justice and, last month, her family flew to London for talks with Defence Secretary John Healey, who assured them of the UK’s ‘steadfast support for their fight for justice’.
For Purkiss’s family in Wiltshire, the allegations have been devastating. His wife, Kelly, a former Army Warrant Officer, was so affected by the stress that she discharged from the military. She insists her husband is innocent. ‘I know my husband and he would not have killed her or slept with her,’ she said. ‘He’s not like that. Robert is a medic, his job was to save people not kill people.’
She described how she and their 11-year-old son directly confronted Purkiss about the accusation. Their son asked him, ‘Dad, did you do it?’ to which Robert calmly replied, ‘No son, I didn’t, and I would never put any of you through something like this.’ Their son reportedly answered, ‘that’s good enough for me Dad’.
Purkiss, a medic who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and received an official commendation, fears a ‘show trial’ should he be extradited to Kenya. He was arrested earlier this month and denied bail at an extradition hearing. The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
