Two brothers have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a civil servant 42 years ago, in what prosecutors described as a hate-fueled robbery spree targeting gay men. Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, were aged 15 and 18 respectively when they attacked Anthony Littler as he walked home in East Finchley, north London, on May 1, 1984.
Details of the Attack
Mr. Littler, a 45-year-old civil servant, had spent the evening at a meeting of the Ponds Branch of The Society for the Preservation of Beer from the Wood in a pub in Carshalton, Surrey. He was ambushed as he walked down a narrow alleyway from East Finchley Tube station at 12:18 a.m. The attackers struck him twice over the head with a baseball bat-type weapon and another implement, leaving him with a catastrophic brain injury. He was found half an hour later by members of the public, still in possession of his briefcase, £80 in cash, and credit cards.
Within minutes of the attack, Michael Stewart made an anonymous call from a phone box requesting an ambulance, but the search was called off after he hung up. Mr. Littler was discovered lying in a pool of blood and later died from his injuries.
Investigation and Breakthrough
The case remained unsolved for decades despite appeals on BBC Crimewatch and ITV’s Police 5. The breakthrough came on the 29th anniversary of Mr. Littler’s death when the defendants’ younger brother, Daniel, who was 10 at the time, came forward to police after a family falling out. He reported that his siblings had confessed to the killing and boasted about “queer bashing.”
In 2022, police reopened the investigation and deployed covert techniques, including bugging the brothers’ cars and Michael’s home. Michael Stewart was recorded bragging about the 1984 attack, while Anthony Stewart remained largely silent. Both defendants, from north London, denied involvement but declined to give evidence at their Old Bailey trial.
Sentencing and Impact
Following a trial, the pair were found guilty of murder. On Friday, Mrs. Justice Cutts sentenced Anthony Stewart, who likely delivered the fatal blow, to life with a minimum term of 15 years. Michael Stewart, who acted as a lookout, received a minimum term of 10 years.
In her sentencing remarks, the judge described Mr. Littler as “a quiet, kind and gentle man” who lived a “quiet, decent and honest life.” She noted that the attack was not impulsive but that the group was “lying in wait for a victim, someone to attack and rob.” While there was no evidence Mr. Littler was gay, the judge acknowledged that the defendants had targeted gay men for robbery, stating: “1984 was a different time and in many respects a different place.”
Victim Impact Statement
In a statement, Mr. Littler’s cousin Patricia McClure expressed anger that the murderers had “42 years of freedom” and that they “picked Anthony at random for fun.” She said: “Anthony was an only child. We were always very close because of it. I am heartbroken for my aunt that she never got the chance to find out what really happened to her son.”
Prosecution and Mitigation
Prosecutor John Price KC noted that Anthony Stewart had a previous conviction for racially aggravated assault in 2010, and Michael Stewart had boasted that his record did not reflect his violent behavior. Intimidation of witnesses was also cited as an aggravating factor. In mitigation, the defense argued that if gay men were targeted, it was because they were less likely to report robberies, not due to hostility.
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. Nothing can undo what happened that night, but I hope today goes some way to honouring him and giving him the justice he deserved.”
