Murder suspect's extradition hearing pushed to May 2027
Relatives of Agnes Wanjiru say the delay is unacceptable after the date slipped from November to next spring.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
An extradition hearing for a former British soldier accused of killing a Kenyan woman has been delayed to May 2027. The session was originally scheduled for next month but will now take place seven months later. A UK court is expected to provide reasons for the change next week.
Robert James Purkiss, 38, faces charges related to the death of Agnes Wanjiru. He was arrested in the UK last November. Purkiss denies the murder allegation and is currently fighting the extradition process. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in February via video link and remains in custody.
The family of the deceased described the new timeline as completely unacceptable. They stated that officials failed to keep them informed of the change. The relatives learned of the postponement through the UK embassy and received no official explanation at the time.
Esther Njoki, Wanjiru's niece, said the family had exercised patience for years. She noted that their patience was being taken advantage of. The family had already raised funds and made travel plans to attend the hearing in the UK. They are now urging authorities to speed up the process.
Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother, disappeared in March 2012. She had been at a hotel in Nanyuki, a town about 200km north of Nairobi. British soldiers were stationed there for training at the time. Her body was found nearly three months later in a septic tank at the hotel. She had stab wounds to her chest and abdomen.
A Kenyan inquest in 2019 concluded she was unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers. In September 2025, a Kenyan High Court issued an arrest warrant for a British national. Prosecutors presented evidence they said justified murder charges.
The case will enter its 15th year without a trial due to the delay. Last year, British Defence Secretary John Healey met the family in Kenya. He pledged government support for their quest for justice. The UK government has said it remains committed to helping the family but has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
Source: BBC News
