Kyle Clifford, a British army veteran, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for the brutal murders of his ex-girlfriend, her sister, and their mother at a home in north London, using a crossbow and knives. This sentence signifies that he will never be eligible for parole, ensuring he remains incarcerated for the remainder of his life.
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03-12, 2025Clifford, 26, had already admitted in January to killing Louise Hunt, 25, and her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, with a crossbow, and their 61-year-old mother, Carol Hunt, with a knife, on July 9, 2024. He was convicted of three counts of murder, one count of false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons. Furthermore, he was found guilty of raping Louise during the "premeditated" attack, demonstrating the extent of his depravity.
Judge Joel Bennathan stated during sentencing that Clifford was a "man filled with jealousy and self-pity, a man with utter contempt for women." Clifford refused to attend the sentencing, showing a lack of remorse. Prosecutors said he had planned the murders for days, ordering the crossbow, knives, air gun, and other items after Louise ended their 18-month relationship due to growing concerns about his behavior.
During the trial, the jury learned that Clifford tricked Louise's mother into letting him into the Hunt home in a quiet residential area of Bath, northeast London, under the guise of returning Louise's belongings, before brutally stabbing her to death. Clifford "lay in wait" for an hour, waiting for Louise to return home, before restraining, raping, and ultimately killing her with the crossbow. When Hannah arrived home from work, she was also shot with the crossbow.
Prosecutors claimed that less than 24 hours before the attack, Clifford had searched for podcasts by Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynistic influencer. They argued that Tate's promotion of "violent misogyny" fueled Clifford's attacks, highlighting the dangerous influence of online extremism. Following the murders, police launched a manhunt for the suspect and found a wounded Clifford in a cemetery in Enfield, north London. He had shot himself in the chest with the crossbow and now requires a wheelchair due to paralysis from the chest down.
The three victims were the wife and two daughters of BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt. John Hunt and his surviving 31-year-old daughter, Amy, attended the trial and sentencing in court. John delivered an emotional statement in court on Tuesday, calling Clifford a psychopath disguised as an ordinary person. He said Louise left Clifford after saying "enough is enough." "I hope that women across the world will take Louise's bravery as a beacon in their lives," he said. "If you feel enough is enough, then it is enough."
John Hunt continued by discussing the life sentence given to the killer of his family. "Now comes the moment to confirm your destiny on this earth. Everyone in the world, and I'm thinking particularly of mothers and fathers, and especially those with daughters, will now be looking forward to the formal pronouncement of a sentence of life imprisonment," he said, according to the BBC. "Never to make your own choices again. Only to breathe fresh air occasionally. Only to eat when you are told to eat." "But remember one thing. Whatever sentence you are about to receive, whatever torment you will face over the next 60 years." "Remember that at the end of your earthly days, on your dying day, there will be no redemption for you." "Kyle, I can dimly hear the howls of hell." "The red carpet will be rolled out for you." "And at that moment, when the man you could have been meets the man you are, you will realize that your wretched destiny will last for eternity."
(Associated Press) National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counseling Service Hotline: 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
