Brothers go on trial over 1984 killing of "kind, gentle" civil servant in homophobic attack

Two brothers have gone on trial accused of murdering a civil servant more than 40 years ago during a violent spree targeting lone gay men in north London.

Michael Stewart, now 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, are charged with the murder of Anthony Littler, 45, who died after being attacked in an alleyway near East Finchley Tube station in the early hours of 1 May 1984. Both defendants, who deny the charge, were aged 15 and 18 at the time of the alleged attack .

Prosecutors told the Old Bailey that Mr Littler, a civil servant and real ale enthusiast, had returned to London after an evening at a pub in Carshalton, Surrey. After arriving at East Finchley shortly after midnight, he walked through a narrow alleyway where he was ambushed and struck twice on the head with blunt weapons, suffering two skull fractures and a “catastrophic brain injury” from which he died at the scene.

The prosecution allege the brothers were part of a group of young men who made a “habit” or “hobby” of attacking solitary men they believed to be homosexual. Jurors heard that the killing was not an isolated incident but part of a wider pattern of violence in the area at the time.

The case remained unsolved for decades despite televised appeals, until a breakthrough came nearly 30 years later when the brothers’ younger sibling Daniel Stewart, who was aged 10 in 1984, contacted police following a family dispute. He told officers his brothers had confessed to the killing and had boasted about “queer bashing”, the court was told.

Jurors also heard that Michael Stewart allegedly later admitted his involvement to a former girlfriend and showed her where the attack took place. In 2022, police reopened the investigation and used covert surveillance techniques, including bugging vehicles and a home, to gather further evidence. 

Detective chief inspector Neil John, who is leading the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, said: "This arrest comes just four days after our latest appeal, and I would like to thank everyone who has already come forward with information.

"However, we still need to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the events leading up to Anthony's murder."

Mr Littler's cousin Tricia McClure described Mr Littler as "lovely, kind and gentle man who wouldn't have hurt anyone".

"It is heartbreaking to our family that this happened to him," she added.