https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14312397/Kyle-Clifford-court-crossbow-pleas-John-Hunt-family.htmlKyle Clifford admits stabbing BBC star John Hunt's wife to death before slaying his two daughters with a crossbow but denies rape
By ANDREW LEVY and MARK DUELL and ARTHUR PARASHAR
Published: 10:49, 22 January 2025 | Updated: 11:54, 22 January 2025
A former soldier who slaughtered the wife and two daughters of BBC star John Hunt after invading their home dramatically admitted the murders today but denied raping his ex-girlfriend before she died. Kyle Clifford murdered his former partner Louise Hunt, 25, and her sister Hannah, 28, with a crossbow before stabbing the racing commentator's wife Carol, 61, to death at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, last July. Clifford, 26, was arrested following a manhunt but was unable to be interviewed while he was treated for an injury in hospital. Today, the ex-security guard appeared at Cambridge Crown Court where he changed his plea and admitted murdering the three women. He denies one count of rape and will go on trial for this charge later in the year. Brave Hannah made a harrowling 999 call and told police she feared she was going to die after her sister and mother were attacked. When officers arrived at the family home, they found her still alive in the doorway with a crossbow bolt in her chest, but despite desperate attempts were unable to save her. Clifford had tied the arms and ankles of his former partner, Louise, with duct tape before he also shot her through the chest with a crossbow. Their mother, Carol, was stabbed in the knee, hands, back and torso after Clifford set upon her with a 10-inch butcher's knife. Clifford, who served in the military from 2019 for around three years, became the subject of a manhunt before he was found injured at Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, North London, after shooting himself in the chest with the crossbow. Appearing via video link at Cambridge Crown Court this morning, Clifford pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment against Louise Hunt, and two counts of possession of offensive weapons the crossbow and the knife. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping Louise. Clifford, of Enfield, North London, will face a trial for the charge of rape at the same court on March 3. Seven years after his brother jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years for murder, Clifford now faces joining him behind bars after admitting to the murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise inside their own house. Harrowing details of the attack, which took place at around 6.30pm on July 9 last year, started to unravel in the days after. Neighbours of the £800,000 suburban home in a quiet cul-de-sac recalled hearing distressing screams so piercing that they were initially mistaken for that of a child. It later emerged that the desperate cries for help were coming from the home where the three defenceless women were ambushed in their own home by the crossbow-wielding killer. After cruelly attacking his victims and leaving them to die, the former military man went on the run, sparking a nationwide manhunt to track him down. Shortly after walking out of the property, leaving a mother and her two daughters behind, Clifford was captured on doorbell footage calmly striding away with what appeared to be a crossbow tucked under his arm hidden beneath a white sheet. Hertfordshire Police took the unusual step of naming and picturing Clifford as they desperately tried to hunt him down. The evil killer was arrested after being found in the Lavender Hill Cemetery, in Enfield, with self-inflicted injuries. Appearing via video link at Cambridge Crown Court this morning, Clifford pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment against Louise Hunt, and two counts of possession of offensive weapons the crossbow and the knife. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping Louise. Clifford, of Enfield, North London, will face a trial for the charge of rape at the same court on March 3. Seven years after his brother jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years for murder, Clifford now faces joining him behind bars after admitting to the murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise inside their own house. Harrowing details of the attack, which took place at around 6.30pm on July 9 last year, started to unravel in the days after. Neighbours of the £800,000 suburban home in a quiet cul-de-sac recalled hearing distressing screams so piercing that they were initially mistaken for that of a child. It later emerged that the desperate cries for help were coming from the home where the three defenceless women were ambushed in their own home by the crossbow-wielding killer. After cruelly attacking his victims and leaving them to die, the former military man went on the run, sparking a nationwide manhunt to track him down. Shortly after walking out of the property, leaving a mother and her two daughters behind, Clifford was captured on doorbell footage calmly striding away with what appeared to be a crossbow tucked under his arm hidden beneath a white sheet. Hertfordshire Police took the unusual step of naming and picturing Clifford as they desperately tried to hunt him down. The evil killer was arrested after being found in the Lavender Hill Cemetery, in Enfield, with self-inflicted injuries. Following the attacks, the Home Office said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was urgently considering whether tougher crossbow laws were needed. In the King's Speech, which took place just days after the killings, there was no proposal to take action on crossbows. The review is understood to be ongoing and no decisions have yet been made. The previous government looked at bringing in firearms licensing-style rules in the wake of an attempt to kill the late Queen with a crossbow. There is currently no registration system for owning a crossbow, no requirement for a licence and they appear to be readily available to buy online. But it is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy or own one, with anyone carrying a crossbow in public without a reasonable excuse facing up to four years behind bars. Mr Hunt and his third daughter Amy previously issued a statement following the incident, which said: 'The devastation we are experiencing cannot be put into words.'
