Brothers Jailed for Life Over 1984 Hate Crime Murder After 42 Years

Two brothers have been jailed for life for murdering a civil servant 42 years ago during a spree of violent robberies targeting gay men. Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, attacked Anthony Littler as he walked home from East Finchley Tube station on 1 May 1984. The case went unsolved for decades until their younger brother revealed the truth to police 29 years later, leading to their conviction at the Old Bailey on 10 July 2026.

How the brothers attacked and left their victim for dead

The Stewarts ambushed Littler, 45, at 12:18am as he walked down a narrow alleyway from the Tube station. They hit him twice over the head with a blunt weapon, leaving him with catastrophic brain injuries. Within minutes, Michael Stewart anonymously called for an ambulance from a phone box but hung up before giving details. Half an hour later, members of the public found Littler lying in a pool of blood. He was still clutching his briefcase, £80 cash, and credit cards, showing the attack was not purely financial.

Why the case remained unsolved for four decades

By spring 1984, the Stewart siblings and their friends had made a hobby of targeting lone men they believed to be gay. During police house-to-house inquiries, both brothers lied about their whereabouts, claiming to be at home. Anthony Stewart insisted he never used the alley. Despite an appeal on BBC Crimewatch and ITV’s Police 5, no meaningful leads emerged. The breakthrough came on the 29th anniversary of Littler’s death, when their younger brother Daniel, who was 10 at the time, came forward to police after the defendants had admitted to the murder and bragged about their actions.

Sentencing and the judge’s assessment of the crime

Mrs Justice Cutts sentenced Anthony Stewart to a minimum of 15 years and Michael Stewart to at least 10 years. The judge stated the attack was not impulsive but premeditated, with the group lying in wait for a victim. She noted that while there was no evidence Littler was gay, the defendants had targeted gay men to rob. Littler was described by those who knew him as a quiet, kind, and gentle civil servant who lived alone and had a great sense of humour.

Family’s reaction and the impact of delayed justice

Littler’s cousin Patricia McClure said she was particularly angry the murderers had enjoyed 42 years of freedom after picking Anthony at random for fun. She expressed relief that people had finally been held accountable for the crime. The case highlights how advances in police investigation and the willingness of family members to come forward decades later can solve cold cases, even when initial inquiries and public appeals yield no results.

Final Thoughts

The conviction marks a rare success in solving a decades-old hate crime. The younger brother’s decision to speak out proved crucial where traditional police work had failed. Justice delayed remains justice for Littler’s family, though no sentence can undo four decades of loss.

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