Suspect in Putney Bridge assault case found dead
Nicholas Brandram, arrested in connection with a 2017 incident, was found deceased at his Chiswick home.
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Multiple independent outlets reported on the inquest, citing the coroner and the family.
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Nicholas Brandram, 44, was found deceased at his home in Chiswick on September 15. An inquest into his death was opened and suspended on September 22 at West London Coroner’s Court by area coroner Melanie Lee. Brandram had been arrested in June in connection with an incident on Putney Bridge on May 5, 2017, where a woman was pushed into the path of an oncoming bus.
Discovery of death
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The coroner stated that on the evening of September 15, Mr Brandram did not attend a planned family meal. His brother-in-law used a spare key provided by a neighbour to access the home and found Mr Brandram in an upstairs room. Paramedics attended but he was pronounced deceased at 8.58pm. The death was not considered suspicious, and there was no evidence of third-party involvement, according to Ms Lee.
Provisional results from a post-mortem examination indicated that the cause of death was ligature compression of the neck. The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding its contact with Mr Brandram, who had been released under investigation following his arrest. This referral led to the suspension of the inquest.
Family's concerns
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Mr Brandram's family have stated they believe he took his own life following months of pressure caused by the Metropolitan Police's investigation. His sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that they believed he did not match the description of the attacker and that there had been an "urgency" by the police to arrest him and report it in the press. They also stated that there was no forensic evidence linking him to the incident and no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at the time.
The family claim the police failed to formally clear his name and that the investigation created "stigma, shame, anxiety, humiliation, and extraordinary pressure." They stated that police were repeatedly warned about the impact the investigation was having on Mr Brandram's mental health. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed its investigation into the Putney Bridge incident remains ongoing following Mr Brandram's death.
Ms Lee informed the family at the inquest opening, "I offer my sincere condolences for your loss. I appreciate today will not be an easy day for you." She also reminded those present that "an inquest is not a trial and nobody and no organisation is on trial."
Questions this report answers
+Who was Nicholas Brandram?
Nicholas Brandram, 44, was arrested in June in connection with a 2017 incident on Putney Bridge. He was found deceased at his home in Chiswick on September 15. His family stated they believed he took his own life due to pressure from the police investigation.
+What was the cause of death?
The provisional cause of death, according to post-mortem examination results, was ligature compression of the neck. The death was not considered suspicious, and there was no evidence of third-party involvement, as stated by the area coroner.
+Why has the inquest been suspended?
The inquest into Mr Brandram's death was suspended on September 22 because the Metropolitan Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its contact with him. The outcome of the IOPC investigation will influence the ongoing inquest proceedings.
+What are the family's concerns about the police investigation?
Mr Brandram's family believe the police investigation caused him immense pressure, leading to his death. They stated there was no forensic evidence linking him to the Putney Bridge incident and that the police arrested him without sufficient evidence, subsequently identifying him in the press.
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