Putney Pusher suspect's sisters seek DNA results

The sisters of Nicholas Brandram, who was arrested in connection with the 'Putney Pusher' incident, have appealed to the Home Secretary to obtain DNA test results they believe will clear his name. Mr Brandram, 44, was arrested in June on suspicion of being the jogger who pushed a woman into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in May 2017. He was found dead at his home in Chiswick on September 15.

Appeal for Exoneration

Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, Mr Brandram's sisters, stated that a DNA sample their brother provided to police two months prior to his death would exonerate him, but the results have not been received. They have contacted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in an attempt to have the Metropolitan Police complete the test and to understand how their brother's identity was disclosed to the press. The sisters claim the stress of the accusation was overwhelming for their brother.

The sisters also presented several reasons why they believe their brother could not have been the attacker. They stated Mr Brandram had no known connection to Putney. Furthermore, they noted that CCTV footage of the incident did not show prominent tattoos matching those of their brother, and the victim described the attacker as having brown eyes, whereas Mr Brandram had blue eyes. Email evidence, they claim, also proves he was not present at the time of the incident.

Police Response and Referral

The Metropolitan Police stated that Mr Brandram's arrest was considered proportionate by officers to enable the seizure and search of his devices as part of the investigation. The force confirmed that Mr Brandram was not publicly named when arrested or before his death. The Met has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concerning its interactions with Mr Brandram.

The police initially linked Mr Brandram to the incident in April after receiving information that opened new lines of inquiry. His sisters maintain that the police failed in their duty of care to their brother and that the individual responsible for the push remains at large.