Two siblings, Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of civil servant Anthony Littler 42 years ago. The incident occurred during a series of violent attacks against men perceived to be gay. Michael was given a minimum term of 10 years while Anthony received 15 years. The crime took place in East Finchley, north London, on May 1, 1984, when the brothers assaulted Littler as he was walking home from a pub meeting.

The victim, a fan of real ale, had attended a gathering of The Society for the Preservation of Beer from the Wood at a pub in Carshalton, Surrey, before being attacked in an alleyway near East Finchley Tube station. Littler, aged 45, was struck on the head with a blunt object, sustaining fatal injuries. Despite Michael Stewart anonymously calling for an ambulance, the search was called off, and Littler was discovered by passersby, critically injured.

The Stewart brothers and their associates had made a habit of targeting solitary men they believed to be homosexual. Initially denying involvement, they later came under suspicion after their younger brother Daniel disclosed details of the crime to authorities. Following this revelation, police reopened the case in 2022, utilizing covert tactics to gather evidence against the siblings.

During the trial, it was revealed that Michael had confessed to the murder to a former girlfriend and bragged about the attack. The court also heard that Anthony had been less vocal but was implicated by his loose-lipped brother. Despite their silence during the trial, the jury swiftly found the brothers guilty of murder.

The presiding judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the crime, emphasizing that the brothers had targeted Littler for robbery. While there was no evidence of Littler’s sexuality, the judge acknowledged the brothers’ pattern of preying on gay men for theft. The sentencing brought closure to the victim’s family, who had endured over four decades of uncertainty and sorrow.