BBC racing commentator John Hunt has spoken publicly for the first time about the profound grief he endures following the brutal murder of his wife and two daughters. The unimaginable tragedy occurred less than two years ago when Kyle Clifford carried out a horrific rampage at the family's £800,000 home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9, 2024.
A Despicable Crime That Shocked the Nation
Clifford, then 27 years old, used a crossbow and knife to murder Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, in what prosecutors described as a 'violent, sexual act of spite.' The attack stands as one of the most shocking crimes in recent British history, with Clifford later receiving three life sentences with whole life orders for his heinous actions.
The court heard how Clifford had raped his ex-girlfriend Louise before murdering her, having previously stabbed Carol to death. Hannah was killed with the crossbow during the terrifying ordeal that left the community reeling.
The Daily Reality of Unimaginable Loss
In an emotional interview with The Telegraph, Hunt described how grief continues to dominate his daily existence. 'A couple of times, I've pushed it too hard. And I've unravelled because of it,' he confessed about attempting to manage his emotions.
'Grief writes its own rules, it's the strangest thing,' Hunt explained. 'You can wake up at half past seven one morning and think, "I feel quite bright today". And then, for no reason at all, come half past eight, you're on your knees again.'
The beloved commentator, who will be working at the Cheltenham Festival next week, revealed his ongoing struggle to comprehend his new reality. 'Ultimately, you have no control over how you're feeling from one minute to the next. There's a strength in the surrender to that. The next time it hits, you know that the intensity won't be quite the same in an hour's time.'
A Family's Ongoing Journey Toward Healing
Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy, have been engaging in yoga, therapy, and various social activities as they attempt to rebuild some semblance of normalcy in their shattered lives. Together they have established The Hunt Family Fund, created in honour of Carol, Hannah and Louise to support causes that help and inspire young women.
'You develop a confidence that you can cope, even though nothing changes,' Hunt reflected. 'I'm still exploring it, as you can tell. I'm still working it out.'
Remembering Three Vibrant Lives
Amy Hunt has spoken passionately about restoring dignity to the memories of her mother and sisters. 'My mum, Hannah and Louise became a statistic. They became victims of Kyle Clifford,' she said. 'I want to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully rounded people.'
John Hunt maintains daily rituals to keep his family close. 'From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them,' he shared. 'Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, "Girls, sorry I can't be with you, I'm with your mum at the moment". As I close my eyes at night, I chat to them as well. So yeah, very close to me all the time.'
The Horrific Details of That Fateful Day
The court heard disturbing details about Clifford's preparations and actions. The day before the murders, he had been watching videos of controversial influencer Andrew Tate, fueling what prosecutors described as his hate-filled misogyny.
On July 9, having purchased what authorities called a 'murder kit' containing a crossbow, knife, duct tape, rope and other items, Clifford arrived at the Hunt family home. He talked his way inside by telling kindly Carol Hunt he had a farewell card for the family and was dropping off some of Louise's belongings.
Security camera audio captured Carol's obvious fear as she admitted feeling like she'd seen a 'ghost' when Clifford appeared. The same recording would later capture the women's screams as they were murdered one by one, along with the distinctive 'whooshing' sound of the crossbow bolts being unleashed.
Justice Served Amid Ongoing Trauma
During the trial, Clifford refused to attend court for his sentencing—a final act of cowardice after months of inflicting horror on the Hunt family. He had also declined to appear at his trial, despite forcing witnesses and relatives to listen to devastating details of his crimes.
Brave Hannah Hunt managed to call 999 as she lay dying from her injuries. All three women were declared dead at the scene. Clifford was found hiding in Lavender Hill Cemetery, near his home in Enfield, north London, the following day. As police officers approached, he shot himself with the crossbow, leaving himself paralysed from the chest down.
A jury took just 45 minutes to convict Clifford unanimously of rape and murder. Mr Justice Bennathan told the court: 'It's unspeakable what friends and family have witnessed in this court.'
The Hunt family has vowed to never stop fighting for the memories of Carol, Hannah and Louise, ensuring their vibrant lives are remembered beyond the horrific circumstances of their deaths.
