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Brothers go on trial over 1984 civil servant killing
Prosecutors say the brothers targeted lone men they thought were gay and that Michael Stewart made the first 999 call before hanging up.
- On Monday, the murder trial began at the Old Bailey for Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, accused of bludgeoning civil servant Anthony Littler, 45, to death in East Finchley in 1984; both brothers deny the charges.
- Prosecutors allege Michael Stewart made a deceptive 999 call at 12:22am on May 1, 1984, after he and Anthony ambushed Littler in an alley, with the victim discovered half an hour later suffering a "catastrophic brain injury."
- In 2022, police reopened the cold case using covert surveillance after the defendants' younger brother Daniel came forward, reporting the brothers had confessed and boasted about "queer bashing" as a "hobby" attacking solitary men.
- Jurors heard Michael Stewart allegedly possessed a "loose tongue," admitting the killing to a girlfriend years later, while sister Gaynor told police the brothers had engaged in racist violence and "queer bashing."
- The Old Bailey trial was adjourned until Tuesday as proceedings test whether modern investigative methods can resolve a 42-year-old case that produced no meaningful leads despite BBC Crimewatch and ITV appeals.
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left0Leaning Right2Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
C 60%
R 40%
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