Forty-two years after the crime, brothers Michael and Anthony Stewart have been sentenced for the murder of Anthony Littler, a 45-year-old civil servant. Michael Stewart, 57, received a minimum sentence of 10 years, while Anthony Stewart, 60, was given a 15-year minimum term. The pair attacked Mr. Littler as he walked home from East Finchley Tube station in north London on May 1, 1984.
Mr. Littler was found with severe head injuries and died at the scene. Investigators believe the brothers had a 'hobby' of attacking men they perceived to be gay, though there was no evidence Mr. Littler was gay. The judge noted that 1984 was a different time and that the defendants targeted gay men for robbery.
The case remained unsolved for decades until the brothers' younger sibling, Daniel Stewart, came forward to the police in 2013. He stated that his older brothers had confessed to the killing and boasted about engaging in "queer bashing." Michael Stewart had also confessed to the murder to a former girlfriend and had shown her the crime scene.
Prosecutors faced challenges in building the case due to the passage of time and the loss of potential evidence. The Metropolitan Police reopened the investigation in 2022, employing covert techniques to gather new material. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before returning guilty verdicts.
On the night of the attack, Mr. Littler had attended a meeting of a real ale appreciation society. He was ambushed in a narrow alleyway shortly after leaving the tube station. An anonymous ambulance call was made shortly after the attack, but the caller hung up before providing sufficient details, leading emergency services to abandon the search for the victim.
Mr. Littler's cousin, Patricia McClure, expressed anger that the murderers had enjoyed decades of freedom while her cousin was killed "for fun." She conveyed her heartbreak that Mr. Littler's mother died without knowing the full truth of her son's fate and that justice would eventually be served.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John of Scotland Yard stated that the brothers targeted Mr. Littler because he was alone and vulnerable. He added that the family of Mr. Littler has continued to suffer pain over the years and that the now-knowing who was responsible offers some closure.