Key facts
- Brothers Michael and Anthony Stewart were jailed for the 1984 murder of Anthony Littler.
- The murder occurred in an alleyway near East Finchley station in north London.
- The case was solved after 42 years due to a family dispute and an undercover police operation.
- Michael Stewart was sentenced to life with a minimum of 10 years, and Anthony Stewart to life with a minimum of 15 years.
- The brothers were 15 and 18 at the time of the attack.
Brothers Michael and Anthony Stewart have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1984 murder of civil servant Anthony Littler, who was beaten to death in an alleyway near East Finchley station. The case, which had no eyewitnesses, forensics, or clear motive, remained unsolved for 42 years until a family dispute and a sophisticated undercover police operation led to their convictions.
Anthony Littler, 45, was attacked shortly after stepping off a train on May 1, 1984. Nothing was stolen, and he died without regaining consciousness. The brothers, who were 15 and 18 at the time, were initially questioned by police but were not considered suspects. The judge noted that the Stewarts had targeted gay men to rob, although there was no evidence Littler was gay.
The breakthrough came in 2013 when the brothers' younger sibling, Daniel, who was not involved in the attack, told police that Michael had confessed to the murder within days of it happening, and Anthony had spoken about it years later. An associate of the family also recalled Michael pointing to the murder scene and making a statement.
In 2019, Detective Chief Inspector Neil John inherited the cold case and launched a new investigation. Despite missing paperwork and exhibits, his team rebuilt the case using old witness accounts and the alleged admissions. This led to the approval of Operation Snowpitch in September 2023, a covert operation involving listening devices placed in Michael Stewart's home and car, and on Anthony Stewart's car. Two undercover officers also infiltrated Michael Stewart's life.
Michael Stewart was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years, and Anthony Stewart to life with a minimum term of 15 years. The judge stated she was sure the brothers were lying in wait for a victim and targeted Littler, taking his life.