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A British ex-soldier is currently facing potential extradition to Kenya for his alleged involvement in the murder of a 21-year-old woman back in 2012. The National Crime Agency (NCA) disclosed that Robert James Purkiss got apprehended in Tidworth, Wiltshire on 6 November, subsequently appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. The NCA’s National Extradition Unit dealt with his arrest following an issued warrant in September.
During the court hearing, the 38-year-old Mr. Purkiss stated his intention to contest the extradition, leading to his remand in custody until the following court appearance set for 14 November. His legal team emphasized his strong denial of the murder allegations. Agnes Manjiru’s remains were discovered in a septic tank close to a hotel in Nanyuki, positioned around 124 miles north of Nairobi, after her disappearance on 31 March 2012. She was a mother to a five-month-old baby at the time of her vanishing.
Esther Njoki, the niece of the victim, sought a meeting with the UK’s defence minister last month to advocate for Mr. Purkiss’s extradition. Following the suspect’s arrest, Ms. Njoki spoke through Leigh Day, the legal representatives of Ms. Manjiru’s family, expressing their relief at this long-awaited development towards achieving justice for Agnes. Tessa Gregory, a partner at Leigh Day, highlighted the significance of this moment and urged for swift cooperation between the UK and Kenyan authorities for a timely trial in Kenya.
Accusations have been directed at the British army for allegedly concealing Ms. Manjiru’s demise and the Kenyan officials for purportedly failing to conduct a thorough inquiry at the time. An inquest was eventually initiated in 2018, revealing that the young woman had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers. Further investigations unveiled a chilling confession from a former British soldier in 2019, asserting his responsibility for Ms. Manjiru’s death. Subsequent internal reviews shed light on numerous cases involving British soldiers engaging in sexual misconduct with local women, some post the army’s prohibition against such behavior in 2022
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