A BRITISH soldier is set to be extradited to Kenya accused of the horrific murder of a woman whose body was found in a septic tank.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of an unidentified serviceman dubbed “Soldier X” over the killing of Kenyan hairdresser Agnes Wanjiru, 21.
AFPAgnes’s family are overcome with emotion after a hearing is postponed[/caption]
EPAPlacards are shown in the streets of Majengo during locals’ continued protests[/caption]
EPAAgnes was last seen partying with British troops on a night out in the Lion’s Court hotel in her home town of Nanyuki[/caption]
Agnes was last seen partying with British troops on a night out in the Lion’s Court hotel in her home town of Nanyuki, central Kenya in March 2012.
Her body – wearing only her bra – was later found stuffed inside the sewage tank in the grounds of the hotel.
Kenyan high court judge Alexander Muteti yesterday issued an arrest warrant after the soldier from the Duke of Lancaster regiment was charged with murder.
He will become the first British serviceman ever to be extradited to a foreign country for the murder of a civilian if the case proceeds.
UK-based witnesses will also be called to testify in a future trial, the court heard.
Yesterday’s breakthrough came after a 13-year campaign for justice led by Agnes’s family, who met UK Defence Secretary John Healey in April.
Mr Healey said: “We will continue to offer our full support to the Kenyan authorities.
“Our Government will continue to do everything we can to help the family secure the justice they deserve.”
Agnes – from a poor Kenyan background – subsidised her income by selling sex for money and had a five-month-old daughter Stacey, at the time of her death.
Kenyan authorities confirmed they will launch extradition proceedings, with the intention that the soldier will face trial in Kenya.
Agnes’s family said in a statement: “We have lived with the pain of Agnes’s death for over a decade.
“The reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against a UK citizen is a significant moment for us and is incredibly welcome.”
The bar of the Lion’s Court hotel was popular with British soldiers based at an army training camp in Nanyuki, 125 miles north of capital, Nairobi.
An inquest heard that Wanjiru had last been seen leaving the bar with one or more British soldiers.
A suspect was named by several soldiers who at the time were attached to the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment following a probe in 2021.
Kenyan detectives have flown to the UK several times to question soldiers and ex-soldiers who were in Nanyuki at the time of the murder.
Lawyers are expected to begin draughting a timeline for the proposed extradition in October.
A UK government spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Agnes Wanjiru and we remain absolutely committed to helping them secure justice.
“We understand that the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions has determined that a British National should face trial in relation to the murder of Ms Wanjiru in 2012.
“This is subject to ongoing legal proceedings and we will not comment further at this stage.”
Social Media – Refer to SourceA warrant has been issued for the arrest of an unidentified serviceman dubbed ‘Soldier X’ over the killing of Agnes Wanjiru[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
