Two siblings have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a civil servant 42 years ago as part of a series of violent attacks on men perceived to be homosexual. Michael Stewart, aged 57, and Anthony Stewart, aged 60, received minimum sentences of 10 years and 15 years, respectively. The incident occurred on May 1, 1984, when the brothers assaulted Anthony Littler as he was returning home in East Finchley, north London.
The victim, a lover of real ale, had attended a gathering at a pub in Carshalton, Surrey, organized by The Society for the Preservation of Beer from the Wood. He was ambushed and left severely injured while walking through a narrow alleyway from East Finchley Tube station around 12:18 am. Mr. Littler, aged 45, sustained fatal head injuries from being struck twice with a blunt object and was discovered half an hour later, still in possession of his briefcase, £80 in cash, and credit cards.
Following the assault, Michael Stewart anonymously called for an ambulance from a phone booth, but the search was called off after he hung up. Mr. Littler was later found by passersby lying in a pool of blood, having suffered a severe brain injury. The Stewart brothers and their associates had reportedly made a habit of targeting solitary men they believed to be homosexual.
Despite initially denying involvement and alibiing themselves during police inquiries, new evidence emerged years later. The breakthrough came when the defendants’ younger brother, Daniel, disclosed their involvement in the crime after a family dispute. He revealed that his older siblings had confessed to the murder and boasted about partaking in “queer bashing.”
In 2022, authorities reopened the investigation, utilizing covert tactics to gather evidence against the brothers. While Anthony remained reticent, Michael was found to have openly discussed his actions in 1984. Both defendants, residents of north London, chose not to testify during the trial but were found guilty of murder by an Old Bailey jury within a short deliberation period.
During sentencing, the presiding judge highlighted Mr. Littler’s character as a gentle and kind individual who lived a modest and honest life. The judge emphasized that the attack was premeditated, as the group had been waiting to target a victim for robbery. Although there was no confirmation of Mr. Littler’s sexual orientation, the court noted that the defendants had specifically targeted gay men for robberies, citing the different societal norms of 1984.
In a statement, Mr. Littler’s cousin expressed anger over the 42 years of freedom the murderers had enjoyed before being held accountable for their actions. She described Mr. Littler as a kind individual with a great sense of humor, who refrained from discussing his job due to the Official Secrets Act.