Putney Pusher suspect’s sisters slam Met: ‘Our bother was innocent’

Nicholas Brandram, a former British Army officer and millionaire banker, took his own life at the age of 44. His sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, insist that he was innocent and criticize the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the investigation. The sisters argue that Brandram did not match the description of the 'Putney pusher' described by the police, as he had blue eyes, an injured leg from a previous army injury, and a military tattoo on his forearm.

They also claim that Brandram was willing to provide a DNA sample to help the investigation. According to CCTV footage, the suspect was described as a man in his early to mid-30s with short brown hair, a stocky build, and wearing dark blue shorts, trainers, and a grey T-shirt. The sisters assert that it was "ridiculous" to consider their brother a suspect and stated that no evidence connected their brother to the attack nine and a half years ago.

They describe the arrest of their brother as "hostile" as he was woken up by police officers wearing armed vests and media crews. The sisters believe the Met had an "urgency" to arrest their brother and leaked his name on social media, leading to online vitriol. They argue that the police were negligent and reckless in their handling of the investigation and that the Putney pusher is still at large due to the police's failure.

Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, in charge of policing for southwest London, expressed condolences to the Brandram family and acknowledged the strain investigations can place on individuals and their families. The investigation remains ongoing, and a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on September 16.