A former British soldier accused of murdering a Kenyan woman more than a decade ago appeared in a London court on Friday. He vowed to resist extradition to face trial.
Robert James Purkiss, 38, is wanted in Kenya for the killing of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru, whose decomposed body was discovered in a hotel septic tank in Nanyuki, a garrison town near a British army base, 13 years ago.
Prosecutor Joel Smith told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Wanjiru was last seen leaving a hotel bar with British soldiers on March 31, 2012, after telling a friend she was going to “hustle for her daughter.”
READ ALSO: Kenyan family demands UK extradite soldier suspect in 2012 death of Agnes Wanjiru
“She was never seen alive again,” Smith said.
According to the prosecution, British soldiers had been drinking heavily that night and were known to pay local women for sex. Smith said Purkiss later admitted to fellow soldiers that he had killed Wanjiru.
“One soldier, who had been drinking that night, said he saw Purkiss crying,” Smith told the court, according to AP’s report. “When he was asked why, the defendant said, ‘I’ve killed her.’”
Purkiss did not enter a plea and shook his head as the prosecution outlined the allegations. His lawyer, David Josse, said Purkiss “vehemently denies” the charge and intends to contest the extradition. The court heard that Purkiss, who is self-employed, lives in the U.K. with his wife and two children.
READ ALSO: Kenyan court orders arrest of British soldier over 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru
Smith said Purkiss told another colleague the incident was “sex that went wrong” and even led him to the septic tank where Wanjiru’s body was hidden. A postmortem report suggested she may have still been alive when she was dumped there.
Wanjiru’s family has spent years pushing for accountability. Their calls gained momentum after a Nairobi court in September ordered the arrest of the suspect, whose name had not been released publicly at the time. British Defence Secretary John Healey has since met with the family’s representatives and pledged to support their quest for justice.
District Judge Briony Clarke denied a request for Purkiss’ release and ordered that he remain in custody until his next bail hearing on November 14.
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