{
  "id": 8198893,
  "title": "Met was negligent and reckless, sisters of 'Putney pusher' suspect tell BBC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/met-was-negligent-and-reckless-sisters-of-putney-pusher-suspect-tell",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T07:40:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxnvl6pp1609o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The sisters of Nicholas Brandram, the man suspected of being the \"Putney pusher,\" have criticized the Metropolitan Police for their handling of the case, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the police were negligent and reckless. Nicholas, a banker, was under suspicion in May 2017 for pushing a woman into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge, west London. His family took him to a hospital in May 2022 after months of immense pressure caused by the investigation. His sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Volker, said his mental health was deteriorating and that he couldn't understand why there wasn't urgency to help clear his name. They also mentioned that he read everything online and believed the police were trying to get him arrested and in the press. The police recognized the strain of being under investigation and made a mandatory referral to the police watchdog. However, the sisters criticized the Met's urgency in the matter, stating that their brother couldn't understand why there wasn't an urgency to clear his name.",
  "summary": "Nicholas Brandram's family say he was innocent and \"took his own life after months of immense pressure\".",
  "key_points": [
    "Nicholas Brandram, the Putney pusher suspect, under suspicion in May 2017",
    "His sisters Alexia Hicks and Sophie Volker criticize Met's handling",
    "Police recognized strain, made mandatory referral to watchdog"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}