Full Breakdown
Death of Nicholas Brandram, suspect in 2017 Putney Bridge incident, examined in inquest
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Inquest opened after Brandram found dead following missed family meal
Nicholas Brandram, 44, a former banker, was discovered unresponsive in an upstairs room of his West London home on September 15. His brother-in-law entered the property using a spare key supplied by a neighbour and found Brandram after he failed to attend a scheduled family dinner. Paramedics attended, but resuscitation was unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 8:58 p.m. The West London coroner, Melanie Lee, opened an inquest on September 22 and immediately suspended it pending a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Background & Context
On May 5, 2017, a jogger shoved a woman head-first into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge. In June 2026, Brandram was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with that incident. He was released under investigation and remained subject to police questioning at the time of his death.
Data & Statistics
- May 5, 2017 – Date of the Putney Bridge assault.
- June 2026 – Brandram arrested on suspicion of involvement.
- September 15 – Date he was found unresponsive at his Chiswick residence.
- September 22 – Inquest opened and suspended.
- Coroner’s finding – Death not considered suspicious; “no evidence of third-party involvement.”
- Metropolitan Police – Referred itself to the IOPC over its contact with Brandram; on September 17 stated the Putney Bridge investigation remains “ongoing.”
Official Statements & Responses
- She also conveyed condolences to the family.
- Metropolitan Police – Confirmed the self-referral to the IOPC and reiterated that the investigation into the 2017 Putney Bridge incident continues.
- Independent Office for Police Conduct – Has been notified of the circumstances surrounding Brandram’s death; the coroner suspended the inquest pending the IOPC’s inquiry.
Criticism & Opposition
Brandram’s sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, have repeatedly asserted that their brother did not match the attacker’s description and that the police investigation placed immense pressure on him. Hicks told BBC Radio 4’s *Today* programme that the Met’s “urgency” to arrest Brandram and publicize the case left him unable to understand why there was no comparable urgency to clear his name. The family believes Brandram took his own life as a result of that pressure.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The post-mortem results are described as provisional; a definitive cause of death has not been confirmed. The coroner’s determination that the death was not suspicious is based on current evidence, but the IOPC investigation may uncover additional information.
Verbatim Quotes
- “His brother-in-law attended Nicholas’s home address and gained access using a spare key provided by a neighbour.” — Ms Lee
What’s Next
The inquest will remain suspended until the IOPC completes its review of the Metropolitan Police’s handling of Brandram’s case. The outcome of that review will determine whether the inquest is resumed or concluded.