A former soldier has been discovered responsible of raping his ex-girlfriend all the way through a four-hour assault during which he killed her, her mom and her sister.
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Kyle Clifford, 26, up to now admitted murdering BBC racing commentator John Hunt’s spouse Carol Hunt, 61, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
He additionally pleaded responsible to false imprisonment of Louise, who was once tied and gagged with duct tape, and ownership of the crossbow used to kill her and her sister, and the 10-inch butcher’s knife he stabbed their mom to demise with.
Symbol: Kyle Clifford. Pic: Hertfordshire Police
Prosecutors mentioned he raped Louise in an “act of spite” all the way through the assault within the Hunt circle of relatives house in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July ultimate yr after she broke up with him 13 days previous.
Clifford, who refused to wait the four-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court docket, claimed DNA proof discovered on her frame was once from a consensual sexual come across 16 days ahead of the assault.
However he was once discovered responsible through a jury after the court docket heard his clarification was once “utterly untenable”.
Symbol: Louise Hunt Pic: Fb
There was once applause from the general public gallery and cries of “sure!”, with one lady pumping her fists and some other lady crying because the responsible verdict was once heard.
The court docket was once informed Clifford started making plans the murders after Louise, who informed a pal he had a “nasty mood”, ended their 18-month courting in a message on 26 June.
Pass judgement on will pay tribute to circle of relatives of the sufferers
Mr Justice Joel Bennathan mentioned he’ll sentence Clifford on Tuesday for his “dreadful” and “nearly unspeakable” crimes.
The pass judgement on paid tribute to the circle of relatives of the deceased, including: “They performed themselves with massive dignity and discretion and I pay tribute to them.”
Detective Leader Inspector Nick Gardner mentioned Clifford’s failure to wait his trial was once an “absolute act of cowardice”.
He identified that the trial were held in Cambridge to satisfy Clifford’s accessibility wishes – he required a wheelchair after he shot himself with the crossbow.
“He has put the circle of relatives in the course of the ordeal of the trial, he has created the whole thing that is took place over this previous week and failing to turn his face is totally cowardly,” he added.
Symbol: Carol Hunt pictured along with her husband John Hunt. Pic: Fb Symbol: Hannah Hunt. Pic: Fb
Clifford ‘deliberate a horrible assault’
Louise’s family and friends, who had described Clifford as “abnormal”, and “disrespectful, impolite and smug”, subsidized her choice to finish the connection, sparked through his behaviour at a pal’s marriage ceremony.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC mentioned Clifford, who had hidden relationships with two different girls from Louise, was once “angered” that she rebuffed his makes an attempt to get again in combination.
“The defendant deliberate a horrible assault on Louise Hunt and her circle of relatives, enraged through her rejection of him,” she informed jurors all the way through the trial.
“That assault incorporated an act of sexual violence, dedicated out of spite, when she was once restrained and not able to flee him.”
Learn extra
CCTV launched displays timeline of crossbow and knife killer
Kyle Clifford pleads responsible to murders of racing commentator’s spouse and daughters
Violent misogyny of sort promoted through Andrew Tate ‘fuelled rape and triple homicide’
Symbol: The recovered crossbow. Pic: Hertfordshire Police
She mentioned the murders have been “moderately deliberate and performed”, with Clifford tricking his manner throughout the circle of relatives house at the pretext of returning Louise’s assets and handing over a “thanks” card to her folks after checking Mr Hunt was once no longer house.
He performed “a brutal knife assault” on Carol, then waited for his ex-girlfriend to go back house from operating at her canine grooming industry in a pod within the lawn, the court docket heard.
It was once added that consumers of Louise’s industry have been the usage of the gate in conjunction with the home, “no longer realising what was once going down” when Carol was once attacked and killed.
Louise was once held for hours ahead of Clifford shot her with the crossbow moments ahead of her sister Hannah, a beautician, got here house from paintings.
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1:33 Photos displays Clifford fleeing the Hunt circle of relatives house
Hannah is heard on audio on the Hunt circle of relatives house announcing: “Kyle, I swear to God,” after discovering him within the home, the court docket heard.
The prosecution mentioned Hannah messaged her spouse, Alex Klein, telling him to “name police… right away. To mine. Now. Kyle right here. Police now. He is tying us up”.
Clifford’s personal sister messaged him at the day of the assaults when she realised he had taken the crossbow, asking: “What are you enjoying at?”
A noisy whooshing sound was once stuck on a doorbell digicam because the weapon was once fired, whilst Hannah might be heard to shout, “Oh my god”, as she discovered her mom and sister.
Symbol: The ten-inch butcher’s knife Clifford used was once by no means discovered however police launched a picture of the packaging. Pic: PA
She was once additionally shot however controlled to name police, and emergency services and products discovered her collapsed within the doorway, however she died quickly after.
Clifford, who served within the military from 2019 to 2022, shot himself within the chest with a crossbow as armed police discovered him in a cemetery day after today after a manhunt and is now paralysed from the chest downwards.
Violent misogyny promoted through the likes of Andrew Tate fuelled Clifford’s assault, prosecutors argued in court docket.
He additionally were looking out YouTube for the debatable influencer’s podcast the day ahead of he performed the four-hour assault, it was once mentioned in criminal argument forward of his trial.
It will possibly simplest now be reported since the pass judgement on excluded the proof from the trial, announcing that it was once of “restricted relevance” and too prejudicial.
