Buzzapp Master 
Kyle Clifford gained notoriety as the vile ‘crossbow killer’ for his gruesome assault on the Hunt family. The harrowing crime saw him violently take the lives of 61 year old Carol Hunt and her daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, in their Bushey, Hertfordshire home last July.
His ex-girlfriend Louise’s tragic decision to end their 18-month relationship led to a deadly outcome – a rampage of “extreme violence”.
BBC racing commentator John Hunt lost his beloved wife Carol, who succumbed to stab wounds, while his daughters tragically fell victim to crossbow attacks in what emerged as a “targeted attack”. The ex-soldier Clifford, 26, then went on the run but was later discovered by the police in a cemetery with self-harm injuries, just 24 hours post the killings.
Following a trial that revealed disturbing details, Clifford was convicted of rape last Thursday – despite his assertion that his DNA was located on Louise due to consensual intimacy over two weeks prior to the murders. However, jurors were quick to dismiss his claims, delivering a guilty verdict within minutes.
Carol Hunt, 61, who was found murdered with her daughters Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, at their £800,00 house
(Image: Nicholas Razzell)
Today marked a day of justice as he received a whole life term sentence for the atrocious slayings, reports the Mirror.
The event unraveled on the early evening of July 9, 2024, when Clifford approached the Hunt household under a false pretext, knocking on their front door pretending to deliver a farewell card and to return Louise’s belongings. A shocking courtroom revelation included a CCTV transcript of his exchange with Carol, where Clifford can be heard deceitfully expressing gratitude for the time spent as “part of the family for 18 months”.
He shared: “Your family has shown me love and kindness.”
In a poignant moment, Carol advised Clifford: “Maybe, maybe think in the next relationship… the way you are and maybe try and change [inaudible]. If you carry on like this, you’ll end up on your own.”
Clifford responded: “I’ve started therapy as well” to which Carol added: “I don’t think you’re a nasty person.”
Following their emotional exchange, Carol wished him well, saying, “Well I wish you luck Kyle,” before he requested a bag for Louise’s belongings. Tragically, moments after Carol allowed him into the house, screams echoed from within, the court heard.
The prosecution argued that it was a calculated ruse by Clifford to enter the home and then murder Carol.
In a chilling account to Cambridge Crown Court, Alison Morgan KC described the horrific events: “The attack was carefully planned and executed, involving the deceit of Louise’s mother Carol Hunt, in order to gain access to the family home, followed by a brutal knife attack upon her. The defendant then waited for Louise to enter the property, before restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her with a crossbow. He then killed Louise’s sister Hannah Hunt with the crossbow, when she returned to the property after work.”
Mrs Morgan revealed the chilling moment to the court, explaining: “The defendant approaches the front door of the property, with the rucksack on his back and carrying the plastic bag. He knocks on the door.
Carol Hunt opens the door. A conversation then takes place in which some parts can be heard.
It is alleged the defendant was seeking to get inside the property by suggesting he wanted to return the items of property and then asking if Carol had another bag to put the items into. ”.
The court was then presented with a transcript detailing this eerie exchange.
Kyle Clifford [KC]: ‘Hey I’m just err dropping off some of err Louise’s stuff’ Carol Hunt [CH]: ‘oo ok’ KC: ‘You ok’ CH: ‘Yeh how are you Kyle’ KC: ‘I’m good thank you, what’s wrong, you look like’ CH: ‘I’ve seen a ghost’ KC: ‘Ohhh…yeh I got you guys a card as well to say bye, is John in, his car is (inaudible, points in direction of car)?
CH: ‘No he’s working he’s gone up to London so yeh’ KC: ‘I was thinking to myself it was probably very unlikely, if I come late at night to say goodbye to him but (inaudible) come late at night CH: [Carol speaks but you can’t hear what she is saying] KC: ‘Oh yeh, no’ CH: [Carol continues to talk but you can’t hear what is being said] KC: [Kyle responds but it is inaudible] CH: ‘…maybe, maybe think in the next relationship… the way you are, and maybe try and change [inaudible] If you carry on like this you’ll end up on your own’ KC: ‘I’ve started therapy as well’ CH: ‘Have you?
[audible]’ KC: ‘Ermmm’ CH: ‘…relationship to relationship and it never works out and then there’s a lot of issues…I don’t think you’re a nasty person…’ KC: ‘Yeh I understand …I’ve got no negative thoughts about our relationship…you know it wasn’t…don’t know how to word it…. it was like… [inaudible].
If I could go back in time I wouldn’t like not do it, you know, I’ve learnt so much and yeh’ CH: Carol speaks but you can’t hear what she is saying KC: [Inaudible] ‘No one is though are they, We’ve all got stuff to work on, Maybe just s.
Kyle Clifford who has been found guilty at Cambridge Crown Court of raping his ex-partner Louise Hunt in an attack which saw him murder her and her sister with a crossbow and their mother with a butcher’s knife.
(Image: AP)
In a candid conversation, one person shared their struggles: “Some more than others like myself, but I’ll get there.”
The other person asked: “So how do you feel in yourself? …[inaudible] you still feeling upset?” The first person responded: “Erm You know what the first week [inaudible] not right.”
The second person empathised: “You know she’s been crying [inaudible]…” The first person continued: “Yeh I was bed bound and I couldn’t do anything after that erm you know like I had a conversation with my parents, I was like opening up to people, I re downloaded Instagram, I was messaging old friends and saying to them like are yous lot free they all understood, I’ve been meeting up with old army friends, like stuff like that which has been very helpful, and therapy as well which has given me an understanding of like A) why I am the way I am and B) if erm how to move past it, like obviously everyone is who they are can’t help that but can always understand what they are saying [inaudible], like you are who you are but you can change certain personalities, I think is what they call it, like temper or, and trauma from the past from family.”
The second person added: “[Inaudible]… past…you know you don’t want to end up like that.”
The first person agreed: “[scoffs] Yeh of course.”
The second person hoped: “[Inaudible]… Hopefully like you..learn a lot…each other now.”
The first person reflected: “[Inaudible]…Of course…say like…that’s why they say old people are so wise….they’ve lived through life and got all that experience they can look back at where they’ve gone wrong.”
The second person encouraged: “Yes well do do that Kyle…[inaudible].”
The first person asked: “Where is she, working?” The second person answered: “She’s working…[inaudible].”
The first person concluded: “They’re going on ho.”
‘Are they on holiday as well?
‘ CH: ‘Yeah, yeah. ‘ KC: ‘Ah right, yeah.
‘ CH: [Inaudible] KC: ‘[Inaudible]… gone?
‘ CH: ‘Go up there… [inaudible]’ KC: ‘Oh they broke up?
‘ CH: ‘Yeah.
[inaudible]’ KC: ‘I think erm…[inaudible]’ CH: ‘Well I wish you luck Kyle’ KC: ‘Oh do you have a plastic bag to put this stuff in?
I’ve got you a card as well. Here you go.
‘ CH: ‘ [Inaudible]… will a black bag do?’
Mrs Morgan revealed that within a minute of entering the property, Clifford had murdered Carol. She explained: “The defendant entered the property, having been let in by Carol. Within a minute at 2.40pm screams can be heard from a female. A long scream is followed by four shorter screams or shouts. There are then banging sounds. The prosecution alleges that the defendant attacked Carol, using the knife, in this period, having just entered the property. As we will come to, Carol sustained significant knife wounds.”
Clifford then went back to his car to fetch a crossbow, which he concealed under a white blanket, and waited for Louise to enter the property before “restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her” with the weapon. When her sister Hannah came home from work, he also assaulted her with the crossbow.
When police arrived at the property, Louise and Carol were dead and Hannah was alive with a crossbow bolt in her chest. Tragically, she too could not be saved and passed away shortly after.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings