Kyle Clifford, a 26-year-old former British soldier, has been sentenced to whole life in jail for the triple murder of Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise Hunt, 25, and Hannah Hunt, 28. In this sentence, Clifford will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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Background and Motivation
As the prosecutors mentioned Clifford had planned the murders for several days. Clifford’s actions were driven by jealousy and anger after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. Justice Joel Bennathan described him as “a jealous man soaked in self-pity, a man who holds women in utter contempt”
The Attack
On July 9, 2024, Clifford managed to enter the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, by deceiving Carol Hunt ( Louise’s mother). He said to Carol that he was there to return Louise’s belongings, which led Carol to let him in the house.
Once inside, Clifford stabbed Carol to death with a knife he had hidden in a rucksack. After that, he waited for an hour for Louise to enter the house, restrained her, raped her, and killed her with a crossbow. Finally, when Hannah (Louise’s older sister) returned home from work, Clifford fatally shot her with the crossbow as well.
Legal Proceedings
Clifford pleaded guilty and the Crossbow killer was jailed for life for triple murders, one count of false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons. He was also found guilty of raping Louise Hunt during the attack. He refused to attend the hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, as a result, the sentencing was delivered in Clifford’s absence.
Sentencing and Victim Impact Statements
Justice Bennathan handed down three whole-life orders, making sure Clifford would never be released. John Hunt, the father of the victims, described Clifford as a “psychopath who disguised himself as an ordinary person during his relationship with Louise”.
Then, Amy Hunt, another daughter, described Clifford as a “monster” and his actions as nothing short of demonic. Also, Hannah’s boyfriend, Alex Klein, called Clifford a “coward” and predicted he would endure a “miserable fate” for eternity.
After the Murder
Clifford was found injured in a cemetery in Enfield, north London, after killing Carol, Louise, and Hanna, he shot himself in the chest with the crossbow. This self-inflicted wound left him paralyzed from the chest down, and he is now confined to a wheelchair.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner praised the bravery of Hannah, who named Clifford during her 999 call, which significantly helped the investigation. Gardner noted that Clifford showed no remorse for his actions, feeling sorry only for himself