Two men arrested over Anthony Littler’s 1984 murder near London Tube station – after 45-year-old found dead in an alley
TWO men have been arrested Anthony Littler murder investigation, 40 years after he was found dead in an alley.
Littler was killed after leaving London’s East Finchley Tube Station just after midnight on May 1, 1984.
His body was found with significant head injuries down a bushy alleyway named The Causeway.
Since the murder happened 40 years ago, the alley has now been covered with housing and a McDonalds.
There have been two previous pushes in 1993 and 2013 by the cops to unearth those responsible for Anthony’s death.
Littler was a single man and civil servant for HM Customs and Excise as an executive officer who lived nearby the tube station.
A Crimewatch episode from October 1984 highlighted the killing and recreated the moments before Littler’s death with a lookalike.
Littler was recognised by the station foreman as he passed the ticket barrier on his way home.
Chief inspector David Hatcher told the audience: “Six minutes later the emergency services received a call from someone who wouldn’t give his name.
“He said ‘a man has been badly injured and is lying in a pool of blood’.”
The Crimewatch officer then identified the two phone boxes that the call could have been made from.
A Met spokesperson said on Thursday: “Police believe Anthony was murdered in a random attack but despite an extensive investigation, no one has been charged.
“The motive for the murder also remains unknown.”
One man, aged 56, and another aged 57 were arrested earlier today on suspicion of murder.
They men are currently in police custody.
Two men, including a 58-year-old, were previously arrested in December 2023 and have been bailed until a date in late April.
LBC reports that police have now linked the killing to a brutal baseball bat assault in the area that had happened the day before.
That assault victim, described as 6ft tall with short brown hair, had gone into Galleon Wine Stores with facial injuries and a black eye.
DCI John Neil said that there could have been witnesses of that first assault.
He said ‘a man has been badly injured and is lying in a pool of blood’
Chief inspector David Hatcher
“But there is no forensic evidence in this case and while a modern-day murder investigation would revolve around CCTV, there was none around this, so it’s very much the old-fashioned way of knocking on doors and speaking to people.”
Police said the person who made the 999 call from a telephone box didn’t leave their details and they would still like to speak with them.
Anthony’s cousin told LBC that Anthony had been a kind and gentle man and his death had broken his family’s heart.
They hope that the investigation put the responsible people behind bars.
Jagdish Patel, who owns the Express Mart on High Road, opposite East Finchley Station, and has lived next door to it since the 1970s, thinks police have missed their chance to catch the killer.
“It wasn’t very well publicised. Most of the neighbourhood, we knew them, and people used to come to the shop and there was never much discussion of that.
“There’s not much hope of them finding them now – the whole estate has changed, and people have moved on.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 020 8358 0100 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Anthony Littler's last moments
A October 1984 episode of Crimewatch briefly covered the murder of Anthony Littler, months after the public servant was killed.
Chief Inspector David Hatcher asked the audience to come forward if they had any information.
They also showed a recreation of Littler’s final moments in daylight and with a lookalike actor.
“On Monday 30th April, Anthony Littler caught the Bank line tube from London Bridge and arrived at East Finchley Station at 16 minutes past midnight.
“He was recognised by the station foreman as he passed the ticket barrier.
“On leaving the station he crossed the road and set off home down this alleyway across from the station.
Six minutes later a call was made to police saying a man was badly injured and he was lying in a pool of blood.
“Coming in such a short space of time, the call could only have been made form one of two phone boxes.
Chief Inspector Hatcher then showed the two phone boxes, neither of which exist anymore. One is across the road from the station, the other is 400yards down the road.
“Did you see anyone making a call at that time, 22 minutes past midnight on that evening, April the 30th?
“We’d also like the other passengers on that train to come forward, in particular a man in a black suit and about six foot tall.”
Hatcher also asks to speak to Littler’s drinking pals.