A former British soldier is fighting extradition to Kenya over the alleged murder of a 21-year-old woman whose body was discovered in a septic tank near a UK army base in 2012, Westminster Magistrates' Court has heard.
Alleged Confessions and Social Media Reactions
Robert James Purkiss, 38, allegedly told a colleague that the death of Agnes Wanjiru was "sex that went wrong" and was seen crying outside the Lions Court Hotel in Nanyuki while saying "I've killed her" according to evidence presented to the court.
The Home Office barrister Joel Smith KC revealed disturbing details about Purkiss's alleged behaviour following the incident. In 2018, when a former colleague posted a photograph of himself outside the same hotel with the caption "if you know you know" and referenced the septic tank, Purkiss reportedly responded with a smiling face emoji.
When another group member asked him "do you get choked up?" Purkiss allegedly replied: "Come to think of it I have had a sore throat today."
The Night Agnes Wanjiru Disappeared
The court heard that Purkiss was stationed in Kenya for a six-week training exercise when the alleged murder occurred. On the night of March 31, 2012, soldiers left their base to drink heavily in Nanyuki town, with many ending up at the Lions Court Hotel.
Agnes Wanjiru had left her baby daughter with a friend and went into town with two companions. Mr Smith told the court: "The last time Ms Wanjiru was seen alive, she was leaving the hotel with a soldier."
As she departed, she told a friend in her local language that she was going to "hustle for her daughter" - but she never returned home to collect her child.
Discovery and Investigation
Ms Wanjiru's body was discovered two months later on June 5, 2012, in a septic tank within the hotel grounds. The court heard the body was "significantly decomposed" and a post-mortem examination identified a 2cm stab wound to the lower abdomen and a collapsed lung.
Disturbingly, the examination suggested Ms Wanjiru "might have been alive when placed in the septic tank."
An inquest in 2018 concluded that Ms Wanjiru was murdered by British soldiers. The court heard that Purkiss had allegedly shown a fellow soldier the body in the septic tank shortly after the incident, though other soldiers reportedly didn't believe the confession because they were drunk.
David Josse KC, representing Purkiss, stated that his client "vehemently denies" the murder allegation and has received Ministry of Defence funding to help pay for his defence.
Purkiss, who wore a patterned short-sleeved shirt during the hearing, shook his head in the dock as the allegations were presented. He was remanded into custody and will appear at the same court via video link on November 14 for a further bail application hearing.
