Brothers go on trial over 1984 civil servant killing

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

Michael Stewart, 57, from New Barnet, and Anthony Stewart, 60, from East Finchley, were aged 15 and 18 when they allegedly set upon Anthony Littler in an alleyway as he walked home on 1 May 1984.

The prosecution said the brothers, who have denied murder, were among a group of young males who attacked 45-year-old Mr Littler with blunt weapons in East Finchley.

The victim suffered two skull fractures and a "catastrophic brain injury" from which he died at the scene.

Michael and Anthony Stewart had told police during house-to-house inquiries they were at home at the time of the attack, with Anthony claiming he never used the alley.

The breakthrough came on the 29th anniversary of Mr Littler's death, when the defendants' younger brother Daniel, who was aged 10 at the time, came forward to police following a family falling out.

He told officers they had confessed to the killing and boasted about being involved in "queer bashing", jurors heard.

Years after the killing, Michael Stewart also allegedly admitted his guilt to a girlfriend and even showed her where it happened.

Prosecutor John Price KC told jurors at the Old Bailey in London: "You will hear that this was not the only time that Michael Stewart, Anthony Stewart and others associated with them used violence on a solitary man they did not know, in a public place.

"By the spring of 1984, it is alleged by the prosecution that for quite a while this had been a habit or hobby of theirs.

"They had begun by targeting men whom they thought might be homosexual men."

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In 2022, police reopened the investigation and deployed covert investigative techniques against the brothers, bugging their cars and Michael's home, jurors were told.

The prosecutor said Mr Littler had been a real ale enthusiast and had spent the evening before his death at a pub in Carshalton, Surrey.

After arriving at East Finchley Tube station at 12.18am on 1 May, he was attacked, the court heard.

Immediately after the incident, Michael Stewart allegedly called for an ambulance from a phone box but a search for an injured man was called off after he hung up.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Brothers go on trial over 1984 civil servant killing