Kyle Clifford, who fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and her sister with a crossbow before stabbing their mother to death, has pleaded guilty to their murders.
The 26-year-old tied his former partner Louise Hunt’s arms and ankles with duct tape and shot her through the chest with a crossbow bolt at the family home in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July.
Ms Hunt’s 61-year-old mother Carol Hunt, the wife of BBC commentator John Hunt, sustained significant stab wounds to her knee, hands, back and torso following the attack by Clifford with a 10in butcher’s knife.
Hannah Hunt, 28, was found in the main doorway of the house with a crossbow bolt to the chest and was still alive when police arrived at the property at around 7.10pm on July 9.
Police had been called by Hannah Hunt, who told officers she feared she was going to die as she had been shot and her sister and mother had also been attacked.
Clifford, who served in the military from 2019 for around three years, became the subject of a manhunt for a number of hours before he was found injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, north London, after shooting himself in the chest with the crossbow.
Appearing via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, Clifford of Rendlesham Road, Enfield, north London, 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 Hunt, 25, and will face a trial at the same court laster this year.
A devastating statement released by Mr Hunt and his other daughter, Amy, following the attack, said their grief “cannot be put into words”. “We would like to thank people for their kind messages and for the support we have received in recent days,” they said. “These have provided great comfort to us for which we are very grateful.”
The BBC said in a note to its 5 Live staff following the news: “The news today about John Hunt’s family is utterly devastating. Our thoughts are with John and his family at this incredibly difficult time and we will provide him with all the support we can.”
Louise had launched her own dog grooming business during the pandemic called Groom and Glow, while “talented” sister Hannah had also owned her own beauty business.
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 PA news agency understands the review is 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.
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