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A former soldier raped his ex-girlfriend in a “violent, sexual act of spite” before he murdered her with a crossbow, a court has heard.
Kyle Clifford, 26, shot dead Louise Hunt, 25, and her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, with a crossbow and fatally stabbed their mother, Carol Hunt, 61, at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July last year. The women were the wife and daughters of John Hunt, the BBC racing commentator.
Clifford allegedly began plotting to attack Louise shortly after she ended their 18-month relationship because the “rejection” angered him. He was also angry at the Hunt family generally because he assumed, correctly, they had advised Louise to break up with him, Cambridge crown court heard.
Opening the case on Tuesday, the prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Clifford committed acts of “extreme violence” against Louise and her family after searching online for the day’s racing events to check if John was at home.
She said: “He purchased weapons and equipment for an attack which he intended would involve killing more than one person and would involve the restraint and rape of Louise Hunt.
“The defendant’s planning of that attack began shortly after Louise Hunt sent messages to him ending their relationship. The attack was carefully planned and executed, involving the deceit of Louise’s mother, Carol Hunt, in order to gain access to the family home, followed by a brutal knife attack upon Carol Hunt.
“The defendant then waited for Louise Hunt to enter the property, before restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her with a crossbow. He then killed Louise’s sister Hannah Hunt with the crossbow, when she returned to the property after work.”
Clifford, from Enfield, north London, has chosen not to attend the one-week trial. He admitted the triple murder, false imprisonment of Louise and two counts of possession of offensive weapons, namely an MX-405 crossbow and a 10in knife, at an earlier hearing at Cambridge crown court on 22 January. But he denied raping his former partner on the day of her death.
Morgan told jurors Clifford allegedly raped Louise during the “prolonged incident of violence”, saying: “It was a violent, sexual act of spite, before he then killed her.”
Louise, described as a “caring, positive and happy person” who ran a dog grooming business from home, had met Clifford online. Her family and friends became concerned about the relationship, the court heard. Hannah, who was a beauty therapist, told a relative that the family found Clifford to be disrespectful, rude and arrogant and that they hoped the relationship would come to an end.
Louise confided in a friend that Clifford had a “nasty temper” and behaved in an “aggressive manner” on occasion. She told another friend she was concerned about the relationship and wanted to end it.
The prosecutor said Louise was firm in rebuffing any attempts by Clifford to get back together. “The prosecution alleges that it was that firm rejection by Louise which angered [Clifford] and provides the context and motive for what came to happen on 9 July,” she said.
The case continues.
