Home Australia The unimaginable pain of BBC star John Hunt: How racing commentator’s world was shattered when Kyle Clifford murdered his wife and two daughters – but found comfort in his surviving child and sporting community

The unimaginable pain of BBC star John Hunt: How racing commentator’s world was shattered when Kyle Clifford murdered his wife and two daughters – but found comfort in his surviving child and sporting community

0 comments
John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was murdered along with two of their two daughters.

BBC racing commentator John Hunt has taken a step closer to seeking justice after crossbow murderer Kyle Clifford today pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife and two daughters.

Clifford, from Enfield, north London, stabbed Hunt’s wife Carol, 61, to death and fatally shot Hannah, 28, and his ex-girlfriend Louise, 25, with a crossbow at their home relative in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last. year.

He denies a charge of rape and will stand trial on the charge later this year.

Clifford now faces life in prison after admitting the triple murder which caused “devastation on an unimaginable scale” for Mr Hunt and his surviving daughter Amy.

After the brutal murders, the grieving widower urged people to “make the most of every day”, while his friend and fellow commentator Matt Chapman spoke of Hunt having destroyed the “family unit he absolutely adored”.

Through the searing emotional pain, the loving father’s thoughts turned to Amy and her “deepest desire” to make her life “a little less stressful.”

A fundraiser organized for the Hunt family raised more than £120,000 which Chapman, a Sky Sports Racing colleague, said “won’t take away their pain, it won’t take away their pain or change anything, but it could help them live a better life.” easy”.

Hunt issued a brief statement with Amy after the tragedy saying: “The devastation we are experiencing cannot be expressed in words.”

John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was murdered along with two of their two daughters.

Hannah Hunt died along with her mother and sister in the crossbow attack in Bushey.

Hannah Hunt died along with her mother and sister in the crossbow attack in Bushey.

Louise Hunt (pictured), sister of Hannah Hunt and daughter of Carol and John Hunt, was murdered

Louise Hunt (pictured), sister of Hannah Hunt and daughter of Carol and John Hunt, was murdered

In another statement read by Mr Chapman, Mr Hunt said: “Despite the horrific evil that has devastated our lives, causing devastation on an unimaginable scale, the counterpart has been the overwhelming messages of support, some of which are still to be sent”. read.’

He added: ‘Amy, my eldest daughter, has been a magnificent inspiration with her control and support of me, something I am trying, with all my might, to replicate.

‘Each message has seemed so important to me, like a reassuring hug. We know people are worried about us. We will get through this.”

Hunt had resigned shortly after the tragedy, missing the Paris Olympics, where he was due to commentate on the swimming events for the BBC.

Some 60 days later he bravely returned to work at the Brighton races last September.

He emotionally spoke of the anguish and torment he and his surviving daughter were going through since “his daughters” were murdered, and how his “knees buckled” as he watched from the press box.

“It’s been 60 days since my daughters, Carol, Hannah and Louise, were killed, and although Amy and I still feel very hurt and vulnerable, returning to work in Brighton seemed achievable and realistic,” he said.

‘Carol and I spent our last weekend together in Brighton at the end of May and, looking out to sea from the press box, my knees buckled as I remembered our ride through the wild rapids on the pier a little while ago. of three months.

Soaked to the skin and laughing like teenagers.

“But I know the girls are with me all the way and would have gently encouraged me to take a breath or two and keep going.”

Kyle Clifford pleaded guilty to killing Carol, Hannah and Louise. But he denied a charge of rape.

Kyle Clifford pleaded guilty to killing Carol, Hannah and Louise. But he denied a charge of rape.

A court artist's sketch of Kyle Clifford appearing via video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 17.

A court artist’s sketch of Kyle Clifford appearing via video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 17.

After the attack, an image emerged of Clifford in military gear, holding a gun and with his face covered in camouflage paint.

After the attack, an image emerged of Clifford in military gear, holding a gun and with his face covered in camouflage paint.

He went on to say that “the warmth of everyone at the rink was so amazing with hugs and kindness that washed over me all day.”

“My thanks to everyone who contacted me, to Racetech who made things so simple and to all the racegoers who greeted me,” he added.

‘Amy and I are determined to take small steps forward whenever we feel capable. For that reason, today was a good day and I’m grateful for that.”

A court heard how Clifford tied the arms and ankles of Louise, his 25-year-old ex-partner, with duct tape and shot her in the chest with a crossbow at the family home.

Carol suffered significant stab wounds to her knee, hands, back and torso following Clifford’s attack with a 10-inch butcher knife.

Hannah was found at the front door of the house with a crossbow in her chest and was still alive when police arrived at the property at around 7.10pm on July 9.

Hannah called the police and told officers she feared she was going to die because she had been shot and her sister and mother had also been attacked.

Clifford, who served in the army from 2019 for around three years, was the subject of a manhunt for several hours before being found injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, north London, after shooting himself in the chest with the crossbow. .

Friends leave flowers on Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after the July 11 attack.

Friends leave flowers on Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after the July 11 attack.

Tearful members of the congregation attend a morning service and vigil at St James' Church in Bushey, following the deaths of Carol, Hannah and Louise.

Tearful members of the congregation attend a morning service and vigil at St James’ Church in Bushey, following the deaths of Carol, Hannah and Louise.

Floral tributes are left next to a police cordon, near where Carol, Louise and Hannah were found dead.

Floral tributes are left next to a police cordon, near where Carol, Louise and Hannah were found dead.

A forensic officer outside the Hunt family home where the triple murders occurred in July 2024.

A forensic officer outside the Hunt family home where the triple murders occurred in July 2024.

Appearing via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, Clifford pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment against Louise and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – the crossbow and the knife. .

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping Louise.

Following the attacks, the Home Office said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was urgently considering whether stricter crossbow laws were needed.

In the king’s speech, which took place a few days after the murders, there was no proposal to act with crossbows.

It is understood the review is ongoing and no decisions have yet been made.

The previous government considered introducing similar rules to firearms licensing in the wake of an attempt to kill the late Queen with a crossbow.

There is currently no registration system to own a crossbow, nor is a license required and they appear to be available to purchase online.

But it is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy or possess one, and anyone who carries a crossbow in public without a reasonable excuse faces up to four years in prison.

Clifford, of Rendlesham Road, Enfield, north London, will face trial on the rape charge at the same court later this year.

You may also like