Anthony Stewart and Michael Stewart.
Two British brothers have been sentenced to life in prison for the 1984 murder of a civil servant in north London, more than four decades after the murder remained unsolved.Anthony Stewart (60) and Michael Stewart (57) were convicted of the murder of Anthony Littler (45) who was attacked while returning to his home in East Finchley on May 1, 1984.
Following their conviction at the Old Bailey, Anthony Stewart was sentenced to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison, while Michael Stewart received a minimum sentence of 10 years, The Independent reported.Sentencing the two, Judge Katz said: “This was not a reckless attack. I’m quite sure your group was lying in wait for a victim, someone to attack and rob.” She described Littler as a “quiet, kind, gentle man” who lived a “quiet, decent, honest life.”The court heard that Littler was ambushed and beaten to death with weapons as he returned home shortly after midnight. Although there was no evidence that he was gay, the judge noted that the defendants were targeting men they believed were gay at the time, adding: “1984 was a different time and in many respects a different place.”The case remained unsolved for nearly three decades before a breakthrough came when the brothers’ younger brother contacted police, saying they had confessed to the murder and bragged about attacking men they thought were gay.
The investigation was reopened in 2022, when investigators used covert surveillance, including listening devices placed in the brothers’ cars and Michael Stewart’s home. Prosecutors said the recordings showed Michael discussing the 1984 attack. John Price QC told the court Michael had a “loose tongue” and bragged about what he had done.Paying tribute to the victim, Patricia McClure, Littler’s cousin, said, as quoted by The Independent, “I’m particularly angry that these killers got 42 years of freedom,” adding that he was “kind” and had a “great sense of humor.” She said the family was devastated by his death and that justice had taken a long time.
