It was the mystery that gripped the UK. In November 1974, Lord Lucan disappeared from his London home after his nanny, Sandra Rivett was murdered and his wife was attacked. There are many theories about Lord Lucan’s disappearance. Some think that he escaped abroad with help from his friends. Others believe that he committed suicide or persuaded his friends to kill him before he was found by police. Over the last 39 years many people have claimed to have seen Lucky Lucan, whose body is yet to be found. Although there have been sightings all over the world, nine have been proven. A high-profile sighting in 2003 involved a bearded man bearing a striking resemblance to Lucan. However, the look-a-like turned out to be Barry Halpin, a well-known figure on the 1960’s folk circuit in the UK, who had been living in Goa and also like Lucan, was a keen gambler. In October 2004, Scotland Yard reopened the Lucan case so they could examine existing police evidence, using DNA profiling. Police prepared a computer-generated image of how Lord Lucan would look aged 71 years old, if he were still alive. However, the DNA testing failed to provide any evidence to solve the Lucan mystery. One theory is that Lucan committed suicide as the gentleman’s way out and to protect his family honour. As well as the murder charges, Lucan was also heavily in debt due to his gambling addiction - he was facing financial ruin. This is a theory supported by the late casino owner John Aspinall, on of the last people to see Lucan before he disappeared. His theory was that Lucan was guilty of the murder of his nanny, and that he killed himself out of shame. In his absence Lord Lucan was found guilty of the murder of Mrs Sandra Rivett by a coroners Jury in June 1975. A warrant committing Lord Lucan for trial at the Central Criminal Court was issued immediately after the decision. However, due to Lucan’s disappearance, the case has never been examined in a criminal trail. The law relating to murder cases changed shortly after the Coroner’s Jury’s decision. Lucan is still wanted for the murder of his nanny and the attempted murder of his wife. There are many theories about the night Sandra Rivett was murdered. Lord Lucan wrote three letters to close acquaintances before his disappearance, hinting of his innocence. Supporters of Lucan claim the coincidence was that Lucan had passed the house at the very same moment that Lady Lucan had been attacked. There are three possible scenarios to what could have happened on the night of November 7th 1974;
