Nicholas Brandram, 44, was found dead at his home in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday, with his family saying he was “driven by the police” to take his own life after “months of immense pressure” that followed his arrest in June.
asserted
that → find → June
Now they have accused the Met of lying about the case after the force said in a public statement they were still pursuing multiple lines of inquiry despite a detective recently stating in an email to Mr Brandram's lawyers that there was only one “final” avenue left to be resolved in their investigation.
asserted
detective → accuse → investigation
Mr Brandram, a former army captain and descendant of Queen Victoria, was arrested on suspicion of attempted GBH over an incident nine years ago in which a jogger pushed a woman on Putney Bridge into the path of an oncoming bus during the morning rush hour.
asserted
jogger → arrest → hour
He had been released under investigation at the time of his death, but had not been cleared — a status known as “no further action”.
asserted
He → release → action
His family revealed to the Sunday Times that an email from a detective constable to Brandram’s legal representatives, sent on September 7, said he had been “released under investigation now pending our final line of inquiry being completed”.
asserted
line → reveal → inquiry
But Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, who leads policing in southwest London, said in a statement released to media on Thursday: “Following Mr Brandram’s release under investigation, it was made clear that inquiries would continue while officers progressed outstanding lines of inquiry and forensic examinations.
asserted
officers → lead → inquiry
This remains the position, and further investigative work is ongoing.”
asserted
work → remain → position
His family told the Sunday Times: “We were shocked and appalled when we read the Metropolitan Police statement issued after Nick’s death because it directly contradicts what the police dealing with his case told him while he was alive … so which is the lie?"
asserted
lie → tell → him
The email, seen by the newspaper, also stated that “the lab is unable to provide an ETA [estimated time of arrival]”.
asserted
lab → see → arrival
Brandram’s relatives said: “Those words could hardly be clearer — Nick was told there was one final line of inquiry outstanding and that it was delayed at the laboratory.
uncertain
it → say → laboratory
That final line of inquiry was a comparison between Nick’s DNA and the DNA left by the man who carried out the assault on Putney Bridge.
asserted
who → leave → Bridge
Nick understood that result to be the final step before his name could be cleared.”
uncertain
name → understand → ?
The relatives said in their statement: “The Metropolitan Police cannot be allowed to rewrite the history of what happened now that Nick is no longer here to challenge them.
asserted
Nick → say → them
The emails exist — their own words are in black and white.
asserted
words → exist → black
Read More
“Nick was entitled to the truth while he was alive.
asserted
he → read → truth
The Standard has contacted the Met for comment.
asserted
Standard → contact → comment
Police sources indicated to the Sunday Times that DNA testing may not prove to be conclusive.
uncertain
testing → indicate → Times
A sample found on the victim’s clothing at the time of the incident in May 2017 could have deteriorated, may also have come from another individual, such as someone who helped her at the roadside, or brushed past her earlier on the morning commute, it reported.
uncertain
it → find → commute
Chief Superintendent Knowles also said on Thursday: “Our thoughts are with Mr Brandram’s family and friends at this deeply distressing time.
asserted
thoughts → say → time
We recognise the significant impact his death will have on those who knew and loved him.
asserted
who → recognise → him
“We also understand the strain that being subject to a police investigation can place on individuals and their families.
asserted
being → understand → individuals
"Investigations of this nature, particularly those involving complex evidential and forensic work, can take a number of months to complete as officers gather and assess all available evidence.
asserted
officers → involve → evidence
"As is required whenever a person dies following previous contact with police, a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on 16 September."
The unsolved case of the Putney Pusher became one of Britain’s most notorious.
asserted
case → require → Britain
A jogger was filmed on CCTV running past a man before shoving the female pedestrian into the path of the bus on May 5 2017.
uncertain
jogger → film → May
Bus driver Oliver Salbris told the Sunday Times at the time if he had not swerved “I would have smashed her head”, adding: “The consequences would have been terrible for her – and for me.”
asserted
consequences → tell → me
The victim escaped the ordeal with only minor injuries.
asserted
victim → escape → injuries
It was reported at the time that around 15 minutes after the push, the jogger came back the other way across the bridge, and ignored the victim when she tried to speak to him.
asserted
she → report → him
Detectives identified more than 50 people of interest in their investigation and arrested two suspects before winding down the probe in 2018 over a lack of viable leads.
asserted
Detectives → identify → leads
Mr Brandram’s arrest in June followed his separation from his second wife, with whom he had a young son, the Sun reported.
asserted
Sun → follow → son
It is understood police were contacted by someone close to his estranged wife with information about the Putney Pusher, the newspaper reported.
asserted
newspaper → understand → Pusher
The banker in custody Mr Brandram was further arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A and B drugs, believed to be cocaine and cannabis.
asserted
banker → arrest → drugs
He was bailed later that day.
asserted
He → bail → ?
His bail – which extends for a maximum of three months – was cancelled earlier this month as detectives informed him he was being kept under investigation though without any conditions or length of time.
asserted
he → extend → time
An inquest will be held into his death in due course.
asserted
inquest → hold → course
The Aporia
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