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| Fundamental questions remain after David Lytton's death, says coroner | Fundamental questions remain after David Lytton's death, says coroner |
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| The mystery of why a man from London took rat poison on a moor in northern England two days after flying back to the UK, remains unsolved but it has been revealed that David Lytton “never recovered” from the death of his unborn child. | The mystery of why a man from London took rat poison on a moor in northern England two days after flying back to the UK, remains unsolved but it has been revealed that David Lytton “never recovered” from the death of his unborn child. |
| Lytton, described at the inquest into his death as a “brilliant genius”, who once harboured hopes of going to Oxbridge to study to become a psychiatrist, was the man who flew back from Pakistan and then lay down and died at a remote beauty spot in northern England, sparking an international police investigation. | Lytton, described at the inquest into his death as a “brilliant genius”, who once harboured hopes of going to Oxbridge to study to become a psychiatrist, was the man who flew back from Pakistan and then lay down and died at a remote beauty spot in northern England, sparking an international police investigation. |
| Thirteen months after the discovery of his body and following a painstaking police investigation, the mystery surrounding his identity was finally resolved earlier this year. On Tuesday, at an inquest into his death, a coroner recorded an open verdict. | Thirteen months after the discovery of his body and following a painstaking police investigation, the mystery surrounding his identity was finally resolved earlier this year. On Tuesday, at an inquest into his death, a coroner recorded an open verdict. |
| It remains unclear why London-born Lytton would travel thousands of miles from his adopted home in Pakistan and take the poison on Saddleworth Moor. | It remains unclear why London-born Lytton would travel thousands of miles from his adopted home in Pakistan and take the poison on Saddleworth Moor. |
| Coroner Simon Nelson said a series of “fundamental questions remain unanswered” over his death but parts of his life that remained a mystery up until now were laid bare. Nelson also said he was satisfied there was no third party involvement in Lytton’s death and that he had taken the poison “by his own hand”. | |
| Lytton – described as a loner – had been in a relationship with former nurse, Maureen Toogood, for almost 35 years. | Lytton – described as a loner – had been in a relationship with former nurse, Maureen Toogood, for almost 35 years. |
| Their relationship blossomed after Lytton came to her rescue when she fell ill and collapsed in a London street aged 25. But by her own admission it was an unusual partnership and the couple did not did not live together with Lytton preferring his own space. However, in the 1980s Toogood became pregnant with Lytton’s child and the couple were “very happy”. | Their relationship blossomed after Lytton came to her rescue when she fell ill and collapsed in a London street aged 25. But by her own admission it was an unusual partnership and the couple did not did not live together with Lytton preferring his own space. However, in the 1980s Toogood became pregnant with Lytton’s child and the couple were “very happy”. |
| This happiness, however, would be short-lived as Toogood went on to miscarry the baby girl at just over four months. Lytton, it was heard, was never to recover from this tragedy. | This happiness, however, would be short-lived as Toogood went on to miscarry the baby girl at just over four months. Lytton, it was heard, was never to recover from this tragedy. |
| In a statement read out to court, Toogood said: “In the 1980s I fell pregnant with David’s child. He was very attentive to me, he was over the moon on hearing the news, we were aware it was a baby girl … I believed we would get married and our lives would be very different. The pregnancy was not planned but we were both so happy. | |
| “Tragically, I miscarried. However David struggled to cope … he became withdrawn and quiet and I don’t think things were ever the same with us after that.” | |
| The relationship continued until October 2006 but then as suddenly as he had appeared in her life, Lytton disappeared. It later transpired that three days after visiting her home for the last time and “kissing goodbye” Lytton had travelled to Pakistan with his longstanding friend, Salim Akhtar. | The relationship continued until October 2006 but then as suddenly as he had appeared in her life, Lytton disappeared. It later transpired that three days after visiting her home for the last time and “kissing goodbye” Lytton had travelled to Pakistan with his longstanding friend, Salim Akhtar. |
| Lytton would come back into her life again almost a decade later in the form of a disturbing phonecall from police officers who informed her he had died. | Lytton would come back into her life again almost a decade later in the form of a disturbing phonecall from police officers who informed her he had died. |
| In early December 2015 a panic-stricken Lytton walked into a travel agents in Pakistan. Not able to speak a word of Urdu he desperately tried to explain to staff he needed a one-way ticket to the UK. He told them his visa was due to run out in just over a week and he wanted to travel urgently. Two hours later he came back with two Pakistani men and he bought his single fare ticket. The court heard Lytton had a number of run-ins with Pakistan authorities about his visa and had been incarcerated at least twice due to overstaying. | In early December 2015 a panic-stricken Lytton walked into a travel agents in Pakistan. Not able to speak a word of Urdu he desperately tried to explain to staff he needed a one-way ticket to the UK. He told them his visa was due to run out in just over a week and he wanted to travel urgently. Two hours later he came back with two Pakistani men and he bought his single fare ticket. The court heard Lytton had a number of run-ins with Pakistan authorities about his visa and had been incarcerated at least twice due to overstaying. |
| On 10 December 2015, Lytton, 67, travelled to London Heathrow. He was met at the airport by Akhtar. | On 10 December 2015, Lytton, 67, travelled to London Heathrow. He was met at the airport by Akhtar. |
| Akhtar dropped him off with his luggage at a Travelodge in Ealing and after a brief conversation left believing Lytton would be in touch in the coming days. Lytton had booked to stay at the hotel for five days paying £307 in cash but would only end up staying one night. | Akhtar dropped him off with his luggage at a Travelodge in Ealing and after a brief conversation left believing Lytton would be in touch in the coming days. Lytton had booked to stay at the hotel for five days paying £307 in cash but would only end up staying one night. |
| Unknown to this friend, Lytton travelled to Manchester Piccadilly the following day. Captured on CCTV he spent 53 minutes in the station and ate some sandwiches. They would be his last meal. | |
| At about 2pm that same day he walked into the Clarence pub in Greenfield, near Oldham, Greater Manchester. Tall, white, with receding grey hair, brown eyes and a prominent nose, he asked for directions to the “top of the mountain”, the summit of the 1,500ft Indian’s Head peak on Saddleworth Moor above Dovestone reservoir. | |
| He was wearing a light jacket, trousers, a shirt and slip-on shoes. A day later his body was found on a secluded moorland path. | He was wearing a light jacket, trousers, a shirt and slip-on shoes. A day later his body was found on a secluded moorland path. |
| Toxicology tests confirmed he died from a dose of strychnine, a highly toxic odourless alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly to kill rodents. | Toxicology tests confirmed he died from a dose of strychnine, a highly toxic odourless alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly to kill rodents. |
| He had no wallet, mobile phone or other identification and his name remained unknown despite numerous public appeals and the release of CCTV footage of his last known movements. The story was picked up as far away as Japan and the US. An Australian news website speculated that he was an international spy. | |
| Earlier this month the Guardian revealed that in June 1986 Lytton – who was born to Jewish parents, Sylvia and Hyman Lautenberg in 1948 – changed his surname. | Earlier this month the Guardian revealed that in June 1986 Lytton – who was born to Jewish parents, Sylvia and Hyman Lautenberg in 1948 – changed his surname. |
| The court heard he left home in his 20s after his relationship with his father broke down. Prior to leaving home he studied psychology and sociology at Leeds University but never finished his course. | The court heard he left home in his 20s after his relationship with his father broke down. Prior to leaving home he studied psychology and sociology at Leeds University but never finished his course. |
| Giving evidence his brother, Jeremy, described Lytton as a “genius” who did very well at school. | Giving evidence his brother, Jeremy, described Lytton as a “genius” who did very well at school. |
| He said: “David was incredibly bright and spent a lot of time studying but as he went into teenage years became more and more insular and by the time he came back from university he didn’t want to be with anybody. | He said: “David was incredibly bright and spent a lot of time studying but as he went into teenage years became more and more insular and by the time he came back from university he didn’t want to be with anybody. |
| “The family absolutely adored his company. He was hilarious and well-read and guided me a lot. The more insular he became the more we missed him.” | “The family absolutely adored his company. He was hilarious and well-read and guided me a lot. The more insular he became the more we missed him.” |
| After university Lytton had moved out of the family home and despite initial contact the brothers had not spoken for the last decade. However, he was emphatic that his brother would never commit suicide but was not able to explain the events that occurred on Saddleworth Moor. | After university Lytton had moved out of the family home and despite initial contact the brothers had not spoken for the last decade. However, he was emphatic that his brother would never commit suicide but was not able to explain the events that occurred on Saddleworth Moor. |
| He said: “Although I hadn’t spoken to David for 10 years I can’t imagine any situation that would put David over the edge to want to commit suicide. Even though he had the visa problems and had to get out of Pakistan quickly. I can’t believe for one minute that would push him over the edge.” | He said: “Although I hadn’t spoken to David for 10 years I can’t imagine any situation that would put David over the edge to want to commit suicide. Even though he had the visa problems and had to get out of Pakistan quickly. I can’t believe for one minute that would push him over the edge.” |
| Lytton was a shy, introverted man who was keen on meditating. He had worked as a croupier and then went on to become a London Underground driver, liking the solitary nature of the job. Repeatedly described as someone who took pride in his appearance, once even featuring in a fashion magazine, his terraced home in Streatham did not get the same attention. It lacked any creature comforts and was described as being sparse with no kettle, cooker or even a bed. | |
| He lived in London for more than three decades. But then for some unknown reason, on 6 October 2006 he travelled to Pakistan with Akhtar. He took with him £215,000 from the sale of his Streatham house. | He lived in London for more than three decades. But then for some unknown reason, on 6 October 2006 he travelled to Pakistan with Akhtar. He took with him £215,000 from the sale of his Streatham house. |
| The lonely nature of Lytton’s death and the fact no one came forward to identify the body had seemed to hint at his later life being an insular one, one spent without friends, family or companionship. | The lonely nature of Lytton’s death and the fact no one came forward to identify the body had seemed to hint at his later life being an insular one, one spent without friends, family or companionship. |
| Much about Lytton still remains a mystery but one thing which is clear is that this highly intelligent man was also a complex character who “compartmentalised” his life and friendships. His reasons for travelling to a bleak moor on that cold winter’s day may never be known. | Much about Lytton still remains a mystery but one thing which is clear is that this highly intelligent man was also a complex character who “compartmentalised” his life and friendships. His reasons for travelling to a bleak moor on that cold winter’s day may never be known. |