BBC commentator John Hunt’s family screamed and texted for help in the final hours of their lives before they were executed by savage crossbow killer Kyle Clifford.
Clifford bound 25-year-old former partner Louise Hunt’s arms and ankles with duct tape and shot her through the chest with a crossbow bolt at the family home in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year.
The BBC’s star’s wife Carol Hunt, 61, sustained significant stab wounds to her knee, hands, back and torso – injuries that ultimately proved fatal.
His other daughter Hannah Hunt, 28, was found in the main doorway of the house – with a crossbow bolt lodged in her chest after she had texted her partner begging him to call 999.
Neighbours thought the screams had come from a distressed child. They later realised they were a woman’s desperate cries for help as the family was ambushed by a crossbow-wielding killer – and ultimately rendered silent.
Clifford, who served in the military from 2019 for around three years, became the subject of a manhunt before he was found injured at Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, North London. He had shot himself in the chest with the crossbow.
Appearing via video link at Cambridge Crown Court today, Clifford pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment against Louise Hunt, and two counts of possession of offensive weapons – the crossbow and the knife.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping Louise, and will face a trial for this on March 3.
The killings and the subsequent manhunt played out over a horrifying 24 hours – from the moment Clifford entered the Hunt family’s home in Bushey to the second he was caught by police after firing a bolt into his own body.
July 9, 2024
Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of BBC commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, are found fatally injured at the family home on Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after an attack at around 6.30pm.
Officers and emergency medical crews including two air ambulances are sent to try to save the women, but they all died at the scene.
At 6.50pm, Kyle Clifford is captured on CCTV walking away from the home.
Police are called at about 7pm.
Police on Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 10, 2024 – the day after the murder
July 10
Hertfordshire Police announce at 8.30am that they have launched a manhunt for Clifford who is suspected of murdering the women, and believe he may still have the crossbow.
Police issue a photo of Kyle Clifford on the morning of July 10 as they announce the manhunt
Officers later issue a direct plea to Clifford to ‘make contact’. That afternoon, the identities of the victims are confirmed – and the BBC describe the deaths as ‘utterly devastating’.
Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson of Hertfordshire Police speaks to media outside Hatfield Police Station on July 10, with officers issuing a direct plea to Clifford to ‘make contact’
By 3pm, the search zeroes in on Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, North London.
Police search Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, North London, on the afternoon of July 10
And by 4.30pm, less than 24 hours after the shooting, Clifford is found after shooting himself in the chest with the crossbow, and taken to a major trauma centre.
Kyle Clifford is taken to an ambulance after being found injured at about 4.30pm on July 10
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says she is urgently looking at whether tougher laws are needed on crossbows after the attack.
July 11
Hertfordshire Police say Clifford is yet to speak with officers and is in a serious condition in hospital. The force also confirms a crossbow has been recovered.
Friends of the Hunt family attend a vigil at St James’ Church in Bushey and pay tribute to the three women.
Mourners attend a service at St James’s Church in Bushey on July 11 following the incident
ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin says John Hunt will be kept ‘in our thoughts’ during the July Festival at Newmarket.
Searches take place at a house linked to Clifford’s brother, Bradley Clifford, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for the murder of moped passenger Soban Khan in 2018.
Domestic violence charity Refuge says a misogynistic culture at the root of violence against women and girls must be addressed, in the wake of the killings.
July 13
Hunt and his third daughter Amy say ‘the devastation we are experiencing cannot be put into words’ after the triple murder.
They add: ‘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.’
John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was killed alongside two of their two daughters
July 15
Hertfordshire Police confirm they have not yet been able to interview Clifford about the murders, and will wait for medical staff to confirm that he is well enough to be spoken to before they can quiz him.
The force also confirms that although Clifford has been arrested, the usual time limit for a suspect to be held in custody does not yet apply.
July 17
There is no proposal to take action on crossbows in the King’s Speech, despite Government plans being set out to ban ninja swords.
July 29
ITV commentator Matt Chapman says John Hunt is ‘very thankful that people are thinking about’ him and Amy.
Mr Chapman also says Hunt has told him that ‘every message that’s been sent, every one of those messages feels like a hug’.
A GoFundMe page set up to support Hunt and Amy passes its target of £100,000.
Hannah Hunt was killed alongside her mother and sister in the crossbow attack in Bushey
July 30
The opening of an inquest hears Hannah was still alive and had a crossbow bolt in her chest when police arrived.
She was able to text someone pleading for help, telling them she had been ‘tied up’ at the family home. Hannah was then able to call 999, reporting that she had been shot, as had her mother and sister.
The coroner adjourns the inquest to allow any criminal proceeding to take place.
Louise Hunt (pictured), sister of Hannah Hunt and daughter of Carol and John Hunt, was killed
September 17
Hertfordshire Police confirm Clifford has been charged with three counts of murder, false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.
Police say they were previously unable to speak to Clifford while he received treatment for an injury in hospital. The force also confirm he has been under arrest since July 10.
He then appears at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, which is told Louise had been tied up in the incident which saw her and Hannah shot with a crossbow and Carol suffer multiple injuries in a stabbing.
The court also hears Hannah called the police and told them she feared she was going to die.
Clifford later appears at the Royal Courts of Justice on the same day, where he is remanded in custody.
A court artist’s sketch of Kyle Clifford appearing via videolink at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 17
December 19
Clifford appears at Cambridge Crown Court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh where he pleads not guilty to three counts of murder, one charge of false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.
He is also further charged with raping Louise, but is not yet required to enter a plea for this charge.
Cambridge Crown Court is pictured, where the latest court hearing for Kyle Clifford took place
January 22, 2025
Clifford pleads guilty at Cambridge Crown Court to three counts of murder, one count of false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons. He pleads not guilty to a charge of raping Louise Hunt.
March 3
Clifford is due to face trial at Cambridge Crown Court for the charge of rape.