London, England – A triple killer, Kyle Clifford, has been convicted of raping his ex-partner in a horrific attack that resulted in the deaths of her and her sister with a crossbow, and their mother with a butcher’s knife. The 26-year-old was found guilty by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court, accepting the prosecution’s argument that the rape on Louise Hunt was a “violent, sexual act of spite.”
Clifford, who was tried in his absence after refusing to leave his cell at HMP Belmarsh, became enraged when his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Louise, ended their 18-month relationship. This led him to carefully plan the murders that took place on July 9th. He gained access to the family home by deceiving 61-year-old Carol Hunt, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, before brutally stabbing her to death.
After killing Carol, Clifford lay in wait for an hour for Louise to enter the house, where he restrained, raped, and ultimately murdered her with a crossbow. Subsequently, he fatally shot 28-year-old Hannah Hunt when she returned home from work to the property in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Clifford had previously admitted to three counts of murder, one count of false imprisonment against Louise, and two counts of possession of offensive weapons—the crossbow and the knife. Prosecutors argued that the violent misogyny promoted by controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate fueled Clifford’s attacks.
During the trial, it was revealed that Clifford had hidden other relationships with women and was signed up to online dating sites while with Louise. Customers visiting Louise’s dog grooming business in the Hunt family’s garden were unaware of the tragedy unfolding when Carol was murdered.
The court also heard chilling accounts of the crimes, including screams heard from the house after Louise entered, her restrained state with tape at the wrists and ankles, and Hannah’s message to her partner requesting immediate police assistance as Clifford tied them up.
Following the attacks, Clifford, a former military member, became the subject of a manhunt before being found injured in a cemetery in London. He had shot himself with the crossbow used in the murders, leaving him paralyzed from the chest downwards.
Louise’s friends and family had expressed concerns about Clifford’s treatment of her, noting his aggressive demeanor and disrespectful behavior. In the days leading up to the attacks, Clifford had searched for how to purchase a crossbow and had engaged in concerning online activities, indicating his violent intentions. Clifford is scheduled for sentencing at the same court on Tuesday.