British Activist Found Dead In Istanbul Killed Herself, Inquest Finds

A former BBC journalist who was found dead in toilets at Istanbul airport killed herself in an “impulsive act” after missing a flight, a coroner at her inquest has said.

Recording a verdict of suicide at north London coroner’s court, Andrew Walker said there was no “explanation or reason” for Jacky Sutton’s actions but he was satisfied she had acted alone.

Sutton, 50, was in transit from London to Irbil, Iraq, where she was working, when she died in October last year. Her flight from London landed shortly after 10pm on 17 October, and her onward flight was due to leave at 12.15am.

The findings of an investigation into Sutton’s death, partially read out by Walker, said she had gone to wait in a cafe where she sat alone and drank two cans of beer. CCTV showed that just before 12.30am she went to the boarding desk “without displaying any signs of hurry”, only to be told that her flight had taken off.


“She [said] she had no money and began crying, but the officer on the desk told her there was nothing that could be done,” the coroner said.

At 1am she went to the toilets, and three Russian travellers later raised the alarm. Airport staff found her body in a cubicle and a first-aid team tried to resuscitate her, but without success.

CCTV showed at least seven women had entered and left the toilets before Sutton’s body was found, and no men, the coroner said. He was satisfied that nobody else was involved in her death.