Two brothers convicted of 1984 East Finchley murder after 42 years

Michael and Anthony Stewart were found guilty at the Old Bailey of killing civil servant Anthony Littler in north London in May 1984. Sentencing is set for 3 July.

Old Bailey jury convicts Stewart brothers over 1984 killing of Anthony Littler

Two brothers have been found guilty of murdering a civil servant who was attacked as he walked home through an alley in East Finchley, north London, 42 years ago, bbc.com reports.

Michael Stewart, now 57, and Anthony Stewart, now 60, were aged 15 and 18 respectively when they ambushed Anthony Littler, 45, on 1 May 1984. A jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for less than three hours before returning guilty verdicts on Monday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed.

The brothers struck Littler twice over the head with a blunt weapon. He was found mortally wounded, having sustained what the court heard described as a "catastrophic" brain injury.

Samantha Yelland of the CPS said Littler's family had lived for decades without answers. "No verdict can undo the suffering Anthony's family and friends have endured, but I hope today's outcome can bring some measure of closure to those who continue feeling the effects of this loss," she said.

The case had remained unsolved despite an appeal on BBC Crimewatch and ITV's Police 5 in the years following the attack. No meaningful leads emerged at the time.

The breakthrough came on the 29th anniversary of Littler's death, when the defendants' younger brother Daniel — who was ten years old at the time of the murder — went to police following a family falling-out. He told officers that his older brothers had confessed to the killing and boasted about involvement in what they called "queer bashing." Jurors were told that in the spring of 1984, the Stewart brothers and their associates had made a "hobby" of targeting lone men they believed to be gay.

The CPS said its London Homicide Unit worked alongside the Metropolitan Police to build a case drawing on evidence from the time of the attack, more recent material gathered through a dedicated police operation, and admissions both brothers had made to associates over the course of decades.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who led the investigation, said the guilty verdict would not have been possible without "those who came forward to provide information on the events of that night." He added: "We know Anthony's murder has continued to cause his family pain all these years later, and we are pleased that they now know who was responsible for his death."

The Stewart brothers, both from north London, were remanded into custody following the verdicts. They are due to be sentenced on 3 July.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)