Cold Case Murder Trial Hears of Alleged Confession to 1984 Gay Civil Servant Killing
A court has heard that a man accused of murdering a gay civil servant in an alleyway in 1984 told a girlfriend years later, "That's where we killed that bloke!" as they passed the scene. Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, are on trial for the brutal killing of Anthony Littler, who was found with catastrophic head injuries near East Finchley Tube station in north London on May 1, 1984.
Details of the Fatal Attack and Initial Investigation
Mr Littler, 45, was discovered dead at the scene around 12.50am, just half an hour after the assault, still holding his briefcase and with £80 cash and credit cards intact. At the time of the murder, Michael was a 15-year-old schoolboy, and his brother Anthony was an 18-year-old council binman. Prosecutors allege they used blunt force weapons in a savage attack. Shortly after the incident, Michael made an anonymous 999 call, but it was flagged as a false alarm due to insufficient information to locate the victim.
Alleged Confessions and Delayed Arrests
Over the years, Michael is said to have repeatedly confessed to the killing, but the brothers were not arrested until 2013 when their younger brother, Daniel Stewart, reported them to police. Daniel informed officers of his brothers' alleged confessions and boasts of involvement in "queer bashing." A former girlfriend of Michael testified that he confessed his guilt years later and showed her where the killing occurred. She recounted a conversation where Michael claimed he lured men he believed to be gay into public toilets, and his brother would beat them up, though he insisted he called the police afterward.
Key Testimony and Covert Evidence
The girlfriend further described an incident where, after a row, Michael followed her in his car and shouted about the murder site as they passed East Finchley tube station. Prosecuting KC Jonathan Price questioned whether Michael distorted facts to impress her, calling it "truly grotesque" if so. Michael also allegedly told her his father, Brian Stewart, had "got away with murder," though records show Brian was only fined £50 for grievous bodily harm in a separate case.
In 2022, the Metropolitan Police reopened the case, employing covert techniques. Michael was later recorded in 2023 telling an undercover officer, "My nephew didn't kill nobody, it was my brother." In another phone call, when reminded he had once admitted to killing someone, he replied, "Did I? Oh well, never mind. Who knows?" Prosecutors highlighted a Freudian slip during a police interview where Michael referenced keeping lookout in the alleyway, a detail not previously suggested.
Current Trial and Denials
Michael Stewart of Station Road, New Barnet, and Anthony Stewart of Old Farm Road, Finchley, both deny murder. The trial continues, with jurors weighing decades-old evidence and recent testimonies in this long-unsolved case.
