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Family Accuses Metropolitan Police of “Rewriting History” After Nicholas Brandram’s Death
By Drooid · · How we work
Death of Nicholas Brandram and Family Accusations
Nicholas Brandram, a 44-year-old who had been questioned as a suspect in the 2017 “Putney pusher” case, was found unresponsive at a Chiswick property earlier this week. His family says the Metropolitan Police’s recent statement that multiple lines of inquiry remain contradicts earlier assurances that only one investigative avenue was left. They argue that the police’s failure to provide clear information about the investigation’s timeline, combined with intense media scrutiny, contributed to Brandram’s decision to take his own life.
Police Investigation and Statements
The Metropolitan Police referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following Brandram’s death. Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles said that investigative work on the Putney Bridge incident is still ongoing and that officers continue to pursue outstanding forensic examinations. The force described Brandram’s death as “unexpected but not suspicious” and noted that complex evidential work can take several months to complete.
Family’s Criticism and Calls for Independent Inquiry
Brandram’s sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, told BBC Radio 4’s *Today* programme that the police had been “reckless” and “negligent” in their handling of the case. They highlighted a discrepancy between the police’s claim that Brandram had been told the investigation was near completion and the family’s recollection that he was repeatedly told otherwise. The family demands an independent, full investigation and seeks clarification on why police accounts differ.
Context of the 2017 Putney Bridge Incident
The original incident involved a woman who was pushed in front of a bus on Putney Bridge in 2017. A DNA test that the family believes would have exonerated Brandram—showing he was not a genetic match to evidence from the victim’s clothing—has not been disclosed publicly. The family also notes that Brandram’s distinctive military tattoo, visible on his forearm, does not appear in CCTV footage of the suspect.
Next Steps
The Metropolitan Police indicated that further forensic examinations are pending, while the IOPC’s review of the force’s conduct is underway. The family continues to press for transparency and an independent inquiry into the handling of Brandram’s case.