The sisters of Nicholas Brandram, a millionaire banker accused of being the 'Putney pusher', have asserted his innocence and criticised the Metropolitan Police's investigation. Mr Brandram, a former British Army officer, died on Tuesday at the age of 44.
Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, Mr Brandram's sisters, told the BBC that the Met was "negligent and reckless" in their handling of the case. They argued it was "ridiculous" that he was a suspect, stating he did not match the description of the attacker. They noted their brother had blue eyes, while the victim reported the attacker had brown eyes. They also mentioned he had an injured leg and a military tattoo, and had offered a DNA sample.
Mr Brandram was arrested in June on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, nine years after a woman was pushed into traffic on Putney Bridge. He was released under investigation last week. His sisters described the arrest as "hostile" and said his name was leaked on social media, leading to a decline in his mental health.
Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, responsible for policing in south west London, expressed condolences to Mr Brandram's family and friends. He stated that the investigation remains ongoing, with further work and forensic examinations in progress. A mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on 16 September, as is required when a person dies following police contact.