Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex

Peter Walker

BBC News, Hertfordshire

Brian Farmer

BBC News, Hertfordshire

Reporting fromCambridge Crown Court

Kyle Clifford, who is paralysed from the chest down after shooting himself with the crossbow, did not attend court

Hertfordshire Police A police custody image of Kyle Clifford, who has a thick darkly coloured beard and is standing against a grey backdrop — Kyle Clifford, who is paralysed from the chest down after shooting himself with the crossbow, did not attend court

A man has been found guilty of raping his ex-girlfriend in an attack in which he murdered her, her sister and their mother with a crossbow and a knife.

Louise Hunt, 25, and Hannah Hunt, 28, suffered fatal crossbow bolt injuries at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024, while Carol Hunt was stabbed to death.

Kyle Clifford, 26, of Enfield, north London, admitted the murders but denied raping Louise, but a jury convicted him at Cambridge Crown Court.

The lead detective in the case said he did not think “this is the case of a spurned lover in any way”.

Warning: This article contains details that some people may find distressing

Louise (left), Hannah and Carol Hunt were killed during an attack that spanned over four hours

Supplied Hannah and Louise Hunt are in a restaurant or hotel at a table, opposite their mother Carol Hunt. — Louise (left), Hannah and Carol Hunt were killed during an attack that spanned over four hours

Louise had ended the relationship with Clifford two weeks earlier, and told him in a message, “Take care of yourself”.

“He simply couldn’t deal with what he perceived to be a dent to his pride,” said Det Ch Insp Nick Gardner.

“He then sought to control the situation, in terms of weapons purchases; the cold, calculating way in which he lay in wait in the house for [Louise].”

Judge Mr Justice Bennathan said Clifford’s crimes were “dreadful” and “almost unspeakable”.

The women were the wife and daughters of BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt.

John Hunt, pictured with Carol, had not been at home on the day of the attacks

Supplied John Hunt is in a white shirt and wearing a purple tie with black spots. His wife Carol is facing him and laughing. They're standing outside on grass. — John Hunt, pictured with Carol, had not been at home on the day of the attacks

Prosecutors said he arrived at the family home at 14:32 BST on 9 July, under the guise of dropping off Louise’s belongings, before stabbing Carol, 61.

Screams and banging sounds were heard from the property.

Clifford attacked Louise, a dog groomer who had been working in a pod in the garden, as she entered the home at 16:13, before taping her ankles and wrists – and eventually raping her – in a horrific onslaught that lasted nearly three hours.

The former soldier stopped during the attack to send a text message to Louise’s father using her phone, asking him, “What time are you home?”

When she arrived, Hannah screamed at Clifford “What is wrong with you?” – and managed to message her partner “He’s tying us up” in the minutes before she was also fatally shot.

Clifford arrived at the family home under the guise of returning Louise’s belongings

PA Media Uniformed police officers are standing on a pavement beside a road. There is blue and white police tap cordoning off a road and terraced houses are in the background. — Clifford arrived at the family home under the guise of returning Louise’s belongings

Clifford fled the scene and was arrested by firearms officers in a cemetery near his Enfield home the following afternoon – but only after he had shot himself in the chest, paralysing him.

When he was finally deemed fit to be interviewed by police on 16 September, he said “Sorry” and “What I have done is atrocious.”

On 22 January, he pleaded guilty to the murders.

His rape trial – which lasted only three days this week – heard he searched “horse racing today” on the day of the killings to check whether their father was working.

Jurors were also told he hid his relationships with other women from Louise while they were dating, and was signed up to dating apps Hinge and Bumble.

CCTV showed the former soldier at the gym on the day of the triple murder

Applause and cries of “Yes!” could be heard in the public gallery when the jury returned its unanimous verdict after less than an hour of deliberations.

One woman pumped her fists and another wept.

Lisa Kiff, a senior Crown prosecutor, said: “His crimes are among the very worst I have encountered in my career.”

Det Ch Insp Gardner said he did not know why Clifford contested the rape charge.

“He knew the game was up. I have no idea why he failed to plead. The jury saw through his lies.”

Clifford is due to be sentenced on Tuesday.

After the murders in July, Mr Hunt confided in his ITV colleague Matt Chapman, and said “make the most of every day”.

He later said every message of support he had received was “like a hug”.

Lucy Manning, special correspondent at Cambridge Crown Court

Clifford bought the crossbow online. Questions will be raised about their easy purchase but this is also about those who choose to use weapons to attack and murder women.

What is sadly unsurprising, but is still devastating, is yet again innocent women are the victims of male violence in their own homes, by someone they knew.

Clifford was an ex-boyfriend whose response to rejection was to rape and murder.

He didn’t give evidence and didn’t appear at court.

Instead he made the Hunt family sit through the horrific evidence, and the details of the “violent, sexual act of spite” Louise Hunt had to endure for three hours in her own home.

Source link