Soldier on run from military police for six years arrested following death of his partner

A SOLDIER who has been on the run from the Royal Military Police for six years has been arrested following the death of his partner.

Private Keith Byrne, 30, was found lying next to the body of Kirsty Ward after police were called to a disturbance in their hotel room on July 2.

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The 36-year-old mum of one, from Dublin, had been strangled.

Pte Byrne, wanted by military cops on separate charges of going Awol in 2017, has denied killing her at the hotel on Spain’s Costa Dorada.

In a video message to his family he said: “You know I didn’t do it.

“They found the girl dead.”

The soldier, who served in the Irish Guards and Parachute Regiment before abandoning his post in Colchester, Essex, has appeared in a closed-door court and been remanded into custody.

A court spokesman said he had been arrested “over the death of his partner”.

They added: “The case has been classified as a crime of homicide / assassination and will be categorised more specifically as the investigation progresses.”

An Army Spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident in Spain involving a soldier that has been absent without leave since 2017, as the matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation it would be inappropriate to comment.”