Ex UK Serviceman Accused of Killing Kenya Female Shows Up in Court

An individual has shown up before a judge as extradition proceedings commenced in the investigation of the victim Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman who was found dead near a British army base in 2012.

Purkiss, 38, who is a native of Greater Manchester, was presented at the Westminster court on Friday, and stated to the court he planned to fight the extradition request. It is understood that he was taken into custody on Thursday evening.

An arrest warrant for the defendant was issued by a court in Nairobi in September. Legal prosecutors stated before the Kenyan court that the individual had been charged with a one count, of killing, and that the Kenyan government would pursue his extradition to stand trial.

The defendant served formerly as a medical attendant with the Lancaster Regiment, the military regiment for the northwestern England, including on tours of Afghanistan.

The victim, 21 years old, a beautician who had a infant daughter, disappeared after a night out, and her body was found two months later in the premises of the lodging where she had previously spotted.

Not a single person had earlier been arrested or indicted in relation to her demise. Purkiss’s arrest came after a recent detective probe, which followed a report in 2021 by a weekly publication, in which the publication reached out to several active and retired troops in the regiment.

The investigation has been spearheaded by investigators from Kenya, which, under a bilateral security treaty, holds legal authority in the matter.