Kyle Clifford jailed for life as BBC star John Hunt says family of crossbow killer 'knew about the weapons'
Clifford, 26, was handed a whole life order murdering his former girlfriend Louise Hunt, her mother Carol Hunt, and her sister Hannah Hunt


Kyle Clifford will spend the rest of his life in prison after a judge sentenced him to a whole life order for the murder and rape of his former girlfriend Louise Hunt and the murder of her mother, Carol, and sister, Hannah.

Mr Justice Bennathan described Clifford as a "jealous man soaked in self-pity – a man who holds women in utter contempt" and said the "brutal and cowardly" attack in July last year in Bushey, Hertfordshire had been planned for 11 days.

Clifford refused to attended Cambridge Crown Court for his sentencing.

Earlier in court, BBC racing commentator John Hunt accused Clifford's family of knowing about the weapons used in the attack - a crossbow and 10-inch butchering knife - as he read out a powerful impact statement.

Hunt told the court Clifford was “callous, cowardly and vindictive”.

He said: “When I was first invited to provide a victim impact statement, I initially misunderstood its purpose, do I really need to detail the impact of having three-quarters of my family murdered?
“But then I realised that this was my final opportunity to say what I wanted to say, specifically to you, Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family, who will carry guilt forwards with them for the rest of their lives. They knew about the weapons, they knew.”

The court was told that, days before the murders, Clifford spoke to his brother Bradley Hunt, who is currently in prison serving a life sentence for murder. The conversation they had was recorded by the prison.

According to the prosecution, Clifford "told his brother Bradley ‘I’ve ordered a crossbow’". The judge said Clifford “never told his brother he was planning to hurt someone”.

After the sentencing John Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy, hugged loved ones after Clifford was sentenced to a whole life order.

John Hunt said in his victim impact statement that he was “so proud of all my girls".

Addressing his comments to Clifford directly, despite him refusing to leave his cell to face the family, Hunt said: "Louise, she enjoyed more success and fulfilment in one morning than you achieved in your entire miserable life.”

Describing his wife, Carol, Hunt said: “Carol still displayed compassion right up until the moment she answered the door to you on July 9.

“Do you remember her kindness, Kyle? How she urged you to get some relationship help and guidance for fear that you would never be able to sustain a lasting relationship?

“You calmly accepted that advice on the doorstep and then literally seconds later, savagely stabbed her eight times and ended her life."

Hunt added that he believed he would have been Clifford's fourth victim, had his daughter Hannah not managed to raise the alarm after being fatally wounded.

“Hannah handed me a second chance, one that she worked so hard to achieve for me," he said.

Concluding his statement, he said: "Whatever sentence you’re about to receive, whatever misery lies ahead for you in the next 60 years, remain that after your days on earth are done, on your dying day there will be no release for you Kyle.

“The screams of hell, Kyle. I can hear them faintly now.

“They’re going to roll the red carpet out for you.”

…the full article…


https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kyle-cliff...090513318.html

…I just can’t imagine the emotion/pain of making such an impact statement…incredibly brave man…

Yes Evil Killer
good, he is Locked away for life.

I hope he has the worst time.

John Hunts Victim Impact statement....that monster had two affairs before Louise broke up with him but he still expected her to be at his side....

My name is John Hunt and I am blessed to be Carol's husband, and Hannah, Louise and Amy's dad.

Thank you for returning the guilty verdict. That you had to consider the evidence was purely down to Kyle choosing to not admit responsibility. You too are victims of his callous, cowardly, vindictive behaviours and I wish he hadn't put you through that.

I so wanted to deliver these words, eye to eye with Kyle. I will continue to act as if I am doing so.

When I was first invited to provide a victim impact statement, I initially misunderstood its purpose. Do I really need to detail the impact of having three quarters of my family murdered?

But then I realised that this was my final opportunity to say what I want to say to you specifically Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family who will carry guilt forward for the rest of their lives; I know you valued them so poorly from all the conversations we had Kyle but I suppose even they must be damaged by what you have done.

I also want to confirm to the world the truth, especially how Louise conducted herself within a textbook, mature breakup on her part, understanding the conflict of saying goodbye to someone she once loved but not allowing those memories to cloud her certain knowledge that you simply failed to be the person she needed.

You failed. I am so proud of all of my girls. Unlike you Kyle, at every step of their lives they made the correct choices to improve themselves as people; Louise enjoyed more success and fulfilment in one morning than you achieved in your entire miserable life.

Do you recall Kyle, how kind we all were to you?

Helping you and Louise enjoy trips away, do you remember how she loved a swanky hotel? You were always invited to meals out. A Sunday lunch at the pub or a special celebration, you were always made welcome. The only Christmas you spent together was at our house. Was it four or five days you spent with us? The food, the games, the laughter, the normality... what was it about that blissful existence you hated so much, Kyle? Could you not handle how pleasant it was, such a contrast to what you were used to.

The trips to Italy, Disneyland and many more; Louise gave your relationship so much effort which you were never able or willing to match. We all offered you kindness, especially Carol. She had picked up on your personal inadequacies right from the start. She sensed your immaturity but always knew Louise would work things out. Carol still displayed her compassion right up until the moment she answered the door to you on 9 July.

Do you remember her kindness Kyle; how she urged you to get some relationship help and guidance for fear that you would never be able to sustain a lasting relationship. You calmly accepted that advice on the doorstep and then, seconds later, savagely stabbed her eight times and ended her life.

When I challenge myself about how you were able to deceive us all, I simply say that you are a psychopath who, for the duration of your time together with Louise, was able to disguise yourself as an ordinary human being.

You reserved your best make-believe version of yourself for the times you were in our house. You managed to maintain that veneer of decency throughout the first year of your time with Louise, but you couldn't maintain it in the early part of 2024.

Although Carol and I never witnessed any alarming behaviour, your visits became less frequent. You began the first of two affairs that we know about, your aversion to a day's hard work continued as you messed up yet another job at Reynolds. It wasn't only the Army that found you worthless.

I often think of the list Louise wrote to herself to remind her of the reasons that you fell short. The racism. She was rightly disgusted by that. Your belittling language. The fact that your family is a mess. Like any woman should be allowed to do, she worked you out despite repeated deceit and said enough is enough. I hope women around the world will take Louise's bravery as a shining beacon for their lives. If you feel enough is enough, then it is.

I'd like to remind you Kyle of how gracious Louise was to you in that final text to you. This is what she said on the 26 June, the morning after she had finished with you face to face.

She texted you thanking you for what was a wonderful year together, explaining how much she once loved you, that she never wanted any animosity to develop between you and that she wanted you to take care of yourself.

You texted back saying: "Thank you for the clarity Louise, so we can both start our healing process. I love you so much and I will for a very long time. I will always be here for you if you ever need me, please don't hesitate. I wish you all the best and take care of yourself too."

The difference was, we know now, that Louise meant every word whereas you simply lied.

You didn't love her enough to stop you having those two affairs in the spring of last year? Or to start planning to kill her and her family just days later. And that a horrific rape on her was part of the plan.

Your levels of misogyny are off the scale.

'A sin to kill a Mockingbird'
Louise's favourite novel from her school days was Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. She was captivated by the goodness of Atticus Finch both as a father and a lawyer.

She would often quote lines from the novel to match life's challenges. One of those quotes that comes to mind, right here in this moment, is that of Miss Maudie reasserting Atticus's assertion that it's a sin to Kill a Mockingbird. She said "Your father's right. Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird".

All their lives Carol, Hannah and Louise similarly spent their time bringing joy and colour and happiness to other people's lives. You killed three beautiful Mockingbirds, Kyle.

So, to remind you, over a period of four hours you brutally killed Carol, waited over an hour until Louise came into the house. You incapacitated her, raped her and when you realised Hannah was coming home, you shot Louise in the back. I can't imagine a more cowardly act. You couldn't look her in the eye. You murdered Hannah minutes later. So four hours.

A few weeks later I also spent four hours with them Kyle; in the funeral director's. The usual room wasn't big enough for three bodies but they removed a partition wall so we could all be together. I sat for a while with Louise to my right. She looked so peaceful and Hannah to my left. I couldn't quite reach to hold their hands at the same time.

Amy and I placed a photograph of Chester in Louise's right hand. Carol was at the top of the room. She was dressed in a beautiful orange dress she had bought for a wedding we went to a month beforehand. I stroked her hair and told her how much I loved her. I thanked her for being such a wonderful partner in life and wonderful mother. They were my four hours Kyle.

'I stand strong'
And what about me? The impact of what you have done will be taken to my grave but on the way there, I want you to know that I stand strong before you today.

As you are consigned to a fate far greater than death, I can draw on the love and strength that I still feel from the girls in every moment of every day. I am lucky. I have the most wonderful daughter; Amy who gives me such focus and purpose. I have Gareth and Alex. I have my extended family, reaching far beyond my mum, brothers and sister, aunts and uncles and cousins. I have many friends who watch out for me on an hourly basis. Carol's friends are mine and I now have a renewed relationship with Hannah's and Louise's best friends. I will always be there for them and they will be there for me too.

So, to remind you, over a period of four hours you brutally killed Carol, waited over an hour until Louise came into the house. You incapacitated her, raped her and when you realised Hannah was coming home, you shot Louise in the back. I can't imagine a more cowardly act. You couldn't look her in the eye. You murdered Hannah minutes later. So four hours.

A few weeks later I also spent four hours with them Kyle; in the funeral director's. The usual room wasn't big enough for three bodies but they removed a partition wall so we could all be together. I sat for a while with Louise to my right. She looked so peaceful and Hannah to my left. I couldn't quite reach to hold their hands at the same time.

Amy and I placed a photograph of Chester in Louise's right hand. Carol was at the top of the room. She was dressed in a beautiful orange dress she had bought for a wedding we went to a month beforehand. I stroked her hair and told her how much I loved her. I thanked her for being such a wonderful partner in life and wonderful mother. They were my four hours Kyle.

'I stand strong'
And what about me? The impact of what you have done will be taken to my grave but on the way there, I want you to know that I stand strong before you today.

As you are consigned to a fate far greater than death, I can draw on the love and strength that I still feel from the girls in every moment of every day. I am lucky. I have the most wonderful daughter; Amy who gives me such focus and purpose. I have Gareth and Alex. I have my extended family, reaching far beyond my mum, brothers and sister, aunts and uncles and cousins. I have many friends who watch out for me on an hourly basis. Carol's friends are mine and I now have a renewed relationship with Hannah's and Louise's best friends. I will always be there for them and they will be there for me too.