The undercover police sting that solved a 1984 murder and sent two brothers to jail

Brothers jailed for 1984 murder after undercover police stingImage source, Family photoImage caption, Anthony Littler was beaten to death in an alleyway in north London in May 1984 - his killers walked free for more than 40 yearsByGuy LynnLondon investigationsPublished10 July 2026, 12:26 BSTUpdated 32 minutes agoJust after midnight on 1 May 1984, civil servant Anthony Littler stepped off a train at East Finchley station and set off down a dark alleyway towards home.Two minutes later, the 45-year-old lay dying on the ground.Anthony - a "gentle giant" to his friends, who lived alone and loved real ale - had been struck twice over the head. Nothing was stolen. No eyewitnesses, no forensics, no clear motive.For 42 years, nobody was brought to justice.On Friday, that changed. Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, were sentenced at the Old Bailey to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years and 15 years respectively for his murder. The brothers were aged 15 and 18 at the time of the attack.Although there was no evidence Anthony Littler was gay, Mrs Justice Cutts noted that the Stewarts had targeted gay men to rob. "1984 was a different time and in many respects a different place," she said.In a televised sentencing, the senior judge told the defendants: "I am quite sure your group was lying in wait for a victim. You targeted that decent, honest individual and took his life."Building a caseCold cases are often solved by science: DNA, fingerprints, old exhibits tested with new techniques.This one was different. Detectives turned to a daring undercover operation - bugging Michael Stewart's home and car, placing listening devices on his brother's car, and sending two covert officers into Michael's life.They were waiting for him to do what, over the years, he had repeatedly done: talk.Image source, Metropolitan PoliceImage caption, For 42 years, brothers Michael (left) and Anthony Stewart got away with murderWarning...