Nicholas Brandram, 44, has been found dead at his home in Chiswick. Metropolitan Police confirmed that his death is being treated as unexpected, though it is not currently believed to be suspicious. Officers and paramedics attended the property after a man was discovered unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed.
Brandram, a former Captain in the Scots Guards who served in Afghanistan, had recently been working as a private banker for HSBC. He was also known for his connections to European royalty; his grandmother was Princess Katherine of Greece, and he was a godson of the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
At the time of his death, Brandram remained under investigation regarding a high-profile 2017 incident on Putney Bridge in west London. Viral CCTV footage from that event showed a woman being shoved into the path of an oncoming 430 bus in a seemingly unprovoked attack. Brandram had been arrested in June of this year on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm and was also questioned regarding drug possession during the same period. Last week, authorities confirmed he had been released while the investigation continued.
Investigation Background and Context
- Police initial outcome: The Metropolitan Police had previously closed the investigation in 2018 after three other individuals were arrested and released without being charged.
- Witness observations: Following the 2017 event, investigators identified more than 50 people of interest.
- Driver response: Bus driver Oliver Salbris later stated that he avoided a fatal collision through a split-second reflex, noting the outcome would have been catastrophic for both him and the woman involved.
- Official assessment: Sgt Mat Knowles, an officer on the original case, credited the driver’s rapid reactions for preventing the woman from being struck by the vehicle.
The incident, which took place nine years ago, drew significant public attention after footage of the near-miss was released to the public. Efforts to identify the perpetrator continued for several years, leading to the identification of numerous potential leads before Brandram was apprehended this year. The report also notes that pictured in 2013, was found dead on Tuesday, nicholas Brandram.
Important Details
- The report also notes that investigating officer Sgt Mat Knowles said: “It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle, shortly after the incident in 2017.
