A man has pleaded guilty to a brutal triple murder involving a crossbow and knife that claimed the lives of a BBC radio commentator’s wife and two daughters, a court heard on Wednesday. Kyle Clifford, 26, admitted to killing Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, during a shocking attack at their family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9, 2024.
Appearing via video link from Belmarsh Prison, Clifford entered guilty pleas to three counts of murder, one count of false imprisonment, and possession of two offensive weapons, Cambridge Crown Court confirmed, The Guardian reported.
The victims’ husband and father, BBC Racing commentator John Hunt, and his surviving daughter Amy shared their grief in a heartfelt statement days after the attack: “The devastation that we are experiencing 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. These have provided great comfort to us for which we are very grateful.”
On the night of the killings, Clifford allegedly tied up Hannah, who managed to send a text to an unnamed individual, stating she had been “tied up” and urging them to call the police. She also reported the suspect was still inside the house. Police arrived to find Hannah alive but critically injured with a crossbow bolt in her chest. She later succumbed to her injuries, per The Times.
Louise also died from crossbow bolt wounds, while Carol suffered fatal stab wounds to her chest and abdomen. Clifford, a former member of the Queen’s Dragoon Guard, was arrested after a 22-hour manhunt. He appeared in court in a wheelchair due to injuries sustained during the incident, which required life-saving surgery, according to reports.
The court also heard that Clifford had been accused of raping Louise, a charge to which he pleaded not guilty. A trial for this charge is set for March 3.
A GoFundMe page created by family friend Matt Chapman has raised over $152,000 to support Amy and the family. John Hunt and Amy’s statement continued: “As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for us, and we need time and space to come to terms with what has happened and start the grieving process.”
An inquest revealed harrowing details, including that Hannah had managed to call police and provide her address before the line was cut. Despite their swift response, all three victims succumbed to their injuries, leaving a community in mourning.
