Two siblings, Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a civil servant 42 years ago in a series of violent attacks targeting men they suspected of being homosexual. The brothers, aged 15 and 18 at the time of the incident, assaulted Anthony Littler as he made his way home in East Finchley, London, on May 1, 1984.
Anthony Littler, a real ale enthusiast, had attended a gathering at a pub in Carshalton, Surrey, with the Ponds Branch of The Society for the Preservation of Beer from the Wood before being ambushed and left severely injured in an alleyway near East Finchley Tube station.
Despite initial attempts to mislead investigators by claiming alibis, the Stewart brothers were eventually brought to justice following a revelation by their younger brother, Daniel, decades later. Daniel disclosed that his older siblings had admitted to the crime and bragged about their involvement in such violent acts.
In 2022, authorities reopened the case and employed covert methods to gather evidence against the brothers, leading to their arrest. Michael Stewart exhibited loose talk, confessing to the crime, while Anthony remained reticent throughout the investigation. Both siblings were found guilty of murder by an Old Bailey jury after a brief deliberation.
During the sentencing, the judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the attack, emphasizing that the brothers had planned to target and rob a victim. The court recognized the heinousness of the crime and the impact it had on the victim, Anthony Littler, who was described as a gentle and law-abiding individual by his acquaintances.
In response to the verdict, Patricia McClure, Mr. Littler’s cousin, expressed a mix of anger and relief, lamenting the prolonged freedom the murderers had enjoyed while acknowledging the accountability finally meted out. She fondly remembered Mr. Littler as a kind-hearted individual with a great sense of humor, who kept much of his work life private due to confidentiality obligations.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a long-standing case that remained unsolved for decades, providing closure to the family and friends of the victim.