BBC racing commentator John Hunt has described the man who murdered his wife and two daughters as a "psychopath disguised as an ordinary human being" after Kyle Clifford was handed a whole-life prison sentence. Clifford, 26, pleaded guilty to the murders of Carol, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, and was found guilty of raping Louise before killing her with a crossbow at their Bushey home in July last year.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Hunt paid tribute to his daughter Louise's bravery in ending her relationship with Clifford, hoping women worldwide would be inspired by her example. "I hope women round the world will take Louise’s bravery as a shining beacon for their lives," he said, noting her disgust at Clifford's racism and belittling language. He added: "If you feel enough is enough, then it is."
Clifford refused to attend Cambridge Crown Court for sentencing, but the judge, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan, said he had no doubt the words of the Hunt family would reach him. The court heard Clifford began plotting the attack two days after Louise ended their 18-month relationship, angry at being rejected and believing the family had advised her to leave him. He deceived Carol to gain entry, stabbed her to death, then restrained and killed Louise with a crossbow, murdering Hannah shortly after she returned home.
During the attack, Clifford sent a text to John Hunt from Louise's phone asking: "What time are you home?" Hunt credited his surviving daughter Hannah with saving his life, stating: "I firmly believe that, had she not managed to show such amazing physical and mental strength in raising the alarm after you fatally injured her, then I would have been your fourth victim that day."
The judge described Clifford as "a jealous man soaked in self-pity, who holds women in utter contempt" and imposed a whole-life order, meaning he will never be released. The prosecution noted Clifford had watched videos by misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate before the murders, calling it "no coincidence".
