Mystery hangs over the death of pensioner on Saddleworth Moor who ‘returned from Pakistan with rat poison’
MYSTERY remains over why a pensioner travelled to bleak Saddleworth Moor from London to take rat poison just two days after flying back to the UK.
David Lytton's death baffled detectives for two years after his body was found on December 12, 2015, close to the summit of Indian's Head in the Peak District.
Mystery shrouded the 67-year-old's death because few clues to his identity were discovered - but an empty bottle containing traces of rat poison was recovered by police.
An open verdict was recorded by Simon Nelson, senior coroner for Greater Manchester North, who said a series of "fundamental questions remain unanswered" over his death.
Londoner David flew 4,000 miles from his adopted home in Pakistan, booked into a hotel for five days in the capital then paid for a return train ticket to Manchester.
He then went to a pub near Saddleworth Moor, asked the landlord the way to "the top of the mountain" and wandered off in bad weather.
A cyclist found his body fully clothed on a track near a remote reservoir carrying £130 in cash.
Despite a mass media appeal, he was only identified in January, more than a year after his death.
David had been dubbed “Neil Dovestone” after the area in Oldham, Gtr Manchester, he was found.
A forensic toxicologist who gave evidence at a hearing into his death today said the former croupier died after taking Strychnine, which is banned in the UK but used as a complementary medicine in some parts of Asia.
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Det Sgt John Coleman, who tracked down the man’s identity, said he didn't know how David obtained the poison but was satisfied there was no foul play in his death.
The inquest heard how David had been in a relationship for more than 30 years with a woman, the inquest heard, but did not even tell her he was moving to Pakistan in 2006 and simply left.
David’s brother Jeremy described his Arsenal FC fan brother as a “genius”.
But he added he was a “loner”, saying: “David was not a man of this century, he was a man unencumbered by possessions.
“He didn’t have a kettle at home and didn’t used to cook at home.
“In a way I really admire that.”
He added that he had no contact with his brother after 2006 when David sold his home in Streatham, south London, and moved to Lahore in Pakistan.
The pair infrequently wrote letters, but Jeremy said he did not think his brother would kill himself.
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.”
The mysterious death will feature in a new Channel 4 documentary exploring the one-year investigation to unearth his identity is due to air tomorrow.
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