Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, were just 15 and 18 when they bludgeoned civil servant Anthony Littler to death as he walked home from East Finchley Tube station in London in 1984
Two brothers have been jailed for life for the murder of a civil servant 42 years ago, which they committed “for fun” during a series of violent robberies aimed at gay men. Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, were merely 15 and 18 when they attacked Anthony Littler, who was brutally killed as he walked home in East Finchley, north London, on 1 May 1984.
The Stewarts were finally brought to justice after their younger brother turned them in 29 years later, revealing that his siblings had admitted to the murder and bragged about “queer bashing”. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, the pair were convicted of murder and Mrs Justice Cutts sentenced them to life imprisonment on Friday.
Anthony Stewart, believed to have dealt the fatal blow, was given a minimum term of 15 years in prison, while “lookout” Michael Stewart was sentenced to at least 10 years.
In a broadcasted sentencing, the senior judge stated: “Anthony Littler was in 1984 aged 45. He was, according to those who knew him, a quiet, kind and gentle man. He lived a quiet, decent and honest life. He worked as a civil servant and lived alone in East Finchley.”
She addressed the defendants: “This was not an impulsive attack, I am quite sure your group was lying in wait for a victim, someone to attack and rob.”
While there was no evidence Mr Littler was gay, the judge noted the defendants had targeted gay men to rob, observing: “1984 was a different time and in many respects a different place.”
In a statement, Mr Littler’s cousin Patricia McClure said: “I am particularly angry these murderers have had 42 years of freedom and they picked Anthony at random for fun, while I am glad that people have been found accountable.”
Mr Littler was described as “kind” with a “great sense of humour”, but he seldom discussed his job due to the Official Secrets Act, she added.
Mrs McClure revealed: “During this investigation, I have seen a statement from my aunt. I found out Anthony wrote to his mother every week without fail.
“I am heartbroken for my aunt that she never got the chance to find out what really happened to her son and police investigations that followed leading to where we are now.
“She went to her grave never knowing that people were held accountable for what happened.
“Anthony was an only child. We were always very close because of it.
“In conclusion, I would like to say I was devastated by Anthony’s murder. I lost a great friend who was like a brother to me.”
On the night of his brutal killing, real ale enthusiast, Mr Littler had attended a pub in Carshalton, Surrey, for a meeting of the Ponds Branch of The Society for the Preservation of Beer from the Wood.
He was ambushed and left for dead as he strolled home down a narrow alleyway from East Finchley Tube station at 12.18am.
He was struck twice over the head with a baseball bat-type weapon and another tool, and was discovered fatally injured half an hour later, still clutching his briefcase, £80 cash and credit cards.
Within minutes of the assault, Michael Stewart had placed an anonymous emergency call from a telephone box, though a hunt for an injured man was abandoned after he terminated the call.
Thirty minutes later, Mr Littler was discovered by passers-by sprawled in a pool of blood, having sustained a “catastrophic” brain injury.
By spring 1984, the Stewart brothers and their associates had turned targeting solitary men they suspected of being gay into a “hobby”, the jury heard.
When police conducted door-to-door enquiries, they claimed to have been at home during the attack on Mr Littler, with refuse collector Anthony Stewart maintaining he never used the alleyway.
Despite appeals on BBC Crimewatch and ITV’s Police 5, no significant leads emerged and the case went cold for decades.
The breakthrough arrived on the 29th anniversary of Mr Littler’s death, when the defendants’ younger sibling, Daniel, who was 10 at the time, approached police following a family dispute.
Years following the killing, Michael Stewart had also confessed his guilt to a girlfriend and even taken her to the scene, the court was told.
In 2022, officers reopened the investigation and deployed covert surveillance tactics against the brothers, placing listening devices in their vehicles and Michael’s residence.
Anthony was described as a man of few words, but Michael proved to have a “loose tongue” and boasted about his actions in 1984, the court was told. Both defendants, from north London, denied involvement in the group attack during the course of a robbery but declined to give evidence.
Prosecutor John Price KC said Anthony Stewart had a previous conviction for racially aggravated assault in 2010 and Michael Stewart had boasted his record did not reflect his violent behaviour.
He added that intimidation of witnesses was also an aggravating factor in the case.
In mitigation, it was argued that if gay men were targeted by the defendants, it was because they were less likely to report being robbed and not due to hostility towards their sexuality.
Samantha Yelland, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Today, Michael and Anthony Stewart have been sentenced for the murder of Anthony Littler more than 40 years ago.
“My deepest condolences go to Anthony’s family and to all those who loved him. They have carried this loss for decades, and sadly many who waited so long for answers have not lived to see this day. Nothing can undo what happened to Anthony that night, but I hope today goes some way to honouring him and giving him the justice he deserved.
“Anthony was walking home alone at night when he was ambushed from behind in what was an unprovoked and cowardly attack. It is devastating that he was targeted and killed, in part, because of his perceived sexuality. This was recognised by the court and reflected in the sentences handed down to Michael and Anthony Stewart.”