A Metropolitan Police detective solved an attempted murder case while still on a graduate programme, thanks to a key piece of evidence: a voicemail recording of the attack. The officer, who cannot be named due to his counter-terror policing role, built a rapport with the victim, leading to the discovery of the audio that captured the victim's distress during the stabbing.
The Attack and Initial Reluctance
Brandon Ruck, found guilty of attempted murder, stabbed a former friend 16 times at a property in Lewisham, south-east London, last year. The victim suffered 'very significant injuries,' including a stab wound to his face that damaged nerves and may impair tongue movement and swallowing later in life. Initially, the victim was reluctant to cooperate with police due to past troubles, but the detective, also in his 30s, built trust through a shared love of sport.
Key Evidence: The Voicemail
During the attack, the victim called a friend and threw his phone before Ruck unleashed the assault. The 30-second voicemail recorded the victim screaming for help, shouting 'please,' 'help,' and 'what is wrong with you?' The detective told Metro: 'The first time I listened to it, I had to take my headphones off after 10 seconds.' He estimated hearing the voicemail about 400 times before trial, and it remained shocking. Along with the medical report, the voicemail was the most impactful evidence for the jury, who returned a guilty verdict for attempted murder.
Detective's Approach and Background
The detective, who studied a criminal investigation course at a Midlands university, said his age and inexperience helped him approach the case with open eyes. 'I was just a university student when I made the application, and the Police Now programme looked appealing,' he said. He added that building trust was crucial: 'The victim had a few troubles with the police in the past, so he wasn't overly keen to speak to us. I knew I was a similar age to him, so I just thought I would speak to him like a normal person.'
Ruck will be sentenced on July 14. The detective described this as one of the largest cases he has worked on alone, stating, 'It's scary when you haven't dealt with something like this before. But I think my age and newness actually helped me.'
