Two brothers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a civil servant in North London, concluding a forty-two-year investigation.

兩名兄弟因在北倫敦謀殺一名公務員而被判處終身監禁，為一場持續四十二年的調查畫下句點。

The incident occurred on May 1, 1984, when Anthony Littler, aged 45, was fatally assaulted in an alleyway near East Finchley station. The victim had been struck multiple times in the cranial region; however, no assets were stolen, and initial forensic evidence was insufficient for prosecution. Mrs Justice Cutts observed that the perpetrators had targeted individuals they perceived to be homosexual, although no evidence indicated that Mr. Littler identified as such.

事件發生於1984年5月1日，當時45歲的Anthony Littler在East Finchley車站附近的一條小巷中遭到致命襲擊。被害者頭部被擊中多次；然而，現場並無財物被盜，且最初的法醫證據不足以提起訴訟。Cutts法官指出，犯罪者針對的是他們認為是同性戀的人，儘管沒有證據顯示Mr. Littler具有此類身分。

Institutional efforts to resolve the case spanned several decades, including three separate investigations and multiple public appeals. The resolution of the case was precipitated by testimony from the defendants' younger brother, who alleged that Michael and Anthony Stewart had boasted of the killing and a broader pattern of targeted violence. This intelligence facilitated the commencement of 'Operation Snowpitch' in September 2023. This covert operation involved the deployment of listening devices in the suspects' residences and vehicles, alongside the infiltration of Michael Stewart's social circle by two undercover officers.

官方為解決此案努力了數十年，包括三次獨立調查和多次公開呼籲。案件的突破在於被告弟弟的證詞，他聲稱Michael和Anthony Stewart曾誇口這起謀殺以及一系列針對性的暴力行為。此情報促使2023年9月啟動了「雪峰行動」（Operation Snowpitch）。這項秘密行動在嫌疑人的住所和車輛中部署了監聽設備，並由兩名便衣警員潛入Michael Stewart的社交圈。

Crucial evidence was obtained through the recording of Michael Stewart's admissions and a specific procedural error during a police interview in March 2024. During this interrogation, Stewart disclosed his role as a lookout—a detail not previously entered into the evidentiary record—thereby corroborating a 999 emergency call placed immediately after the assault. Consequently, Anthony Stewart (60) and Michael Stewart (57) were convicted at the Old Bailey, receiving minimum custodial terms of 15 and 10 years, respectively.

關鍵證據是透過記錄Michael Stewart的認罪以及2024年3月警方訊問過程中的一個特定程序錯誤而獲得。在訊問期間，Stewart透露他擔任放風角色——此細節先前未被列入證據紀錄——從而證實了襲擊後立即撥打的999緊急求救電話。因此，Anthony Stewart（60歲）和Michael Stewart（57歲）在中央刑事法院（Old Bailey）被定罪，分別被判處最少15年和10年的監禁。

The judicial proceedings have concluded with the incarceration of both defendants, providing a legal resolution to the 1984 homicide.

司法程序以兩名被告入獄告終，為1984年的謀殺案提供了法律上的解決方案。