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John Hunt asked 'everything OK?' before Kyle Clifford murders Jury shown security footage of moments before Bushey murders
(about 4 hours later)
Kyle Clifford, who has not attended the trial, was paralysed after shooting himself with a crossbow following the triple killingsKyle Clifford, who has not attended the trial, was paralysed after shooting himself with a crossbow following the triple killings
Warning: This article contains details that some people may find distressingWarning: This article contains details that some people may find distressing
The BBC racing commentator John Hunt sent a text to one of his daughters asking "everything OK sweetness?" shortly before she was murdered, a court heard. Jurors have been given a glimpse into the final hours of a 25-year-old woman murdered by an ex-partner on the same day as her sister and mother.
Kyle Clifford is accused of restraining, gagging and raping his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, 25, before fatally shooting her with a crossbow on 9 July 2024. A home security system captured dog groomer Louise Hunt working in the garden of the house she shared with her father, BBC racing commentator John Hunt, mother, Carol Hunt, and sister Hannah Hunt, in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Cambridge Crown Court heard he also murdered Ms Hunt's mother, Carol, and sister, Hannah, after deceiving his way into their house in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Kyle Clifford, 26, of Enfield, north London, has admitted stabbing Carol Hunt, 61, to death and shooting Louise Hunt, and Hannah Hunt, 28, with a crossbow at their home on 9 July 2024.
Clifford, of Enfield, north London, has admitted the murders, false imprisonment and possession of offensive weapons, but denies raping Louise Hunt. But he denies raping Louise Hunt before killing her.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC accused Clifford of being angered by Louise Hunt ending their 18-month relationship 13 days before the attacks. Footage was played to a jury at Cambridge Crown Court, where Clifford is on trial for rape, on Wednesday.
She said Clifford had been left paralysed from the chest downwards after turning the crossbow on himself later that day in Lavender Hill Cemetery, Enfield.
CCTV shows crossbow killer on day of triple murder
Footage from a camera at the front of the home, in Ashlyn Close, showed Clifford turning up at 14:32 BST under the guise of dropping off items owned by Louise Hunt.
His former partner's mother answered the door and asked how he was, with Clifford replying: "I'm good, thank you. What's wrong? You look like..."
Mrs Hunt responded: "I've seen a ghost."
Dressed in all black, wearing a rucksack and holding a white plastic bag, he spoke with Mrs Hunt before tricking his way inside.
Less than two minutes later, a "long female scream, followed by a shorter scream and shouts" were captured on the footage.
Clifford, 26, admitted stabbing Mrs Hunt to death with a 10in (25cm) butcher's knife.
He then went to his car to collect a crossbow, before returning and lying in wait for Louise Hunt, who was running her dog grooming business in a pod in the garden.
Louise (left), Hannah (centre) and Carol Hunt (right) were murdered in their home in Bushey, near WatfordLouise (left), Hannah (centre) and Carol Hunt (right) were murdered in their home in Bushey, near Watford
On Wednesday, jurors were shown home security footage of Louise Hunt walking into the house via a patio door at 16:12. Jurors have been told than Clifford killed Carol Hunt first, then Louise Hunt, then Hannah Hunt.
Miss Morgan said the security system picked up a "faint scream" shortly afterwards and later a loud "whooshing noise", said to be the sound of the crossbow bolt that killed Louise. They were played clips of footage captured by the Hunts' home system.
She said Clifford used Louise's phone to ask John Hunt, her father, when he would be home. One clip showed Clifford walk up to the front door and chat to Carol Hunt, before being let in.
Thinking the message was from his daughter, Mr Hunt replied: "Late, I am afraid. Everything OK sweetness?" A prosecution barrister said a scream could been heard seconds after the door closed.
Evidence showed that the messages had been swapped shortly before 18:00 on 9 July - and that Louise Hunt was shot and killed shortly before 1900, jurors heard. Footage showed Louise Hunt walking in and out of a "pod" she used as a work base in the garden – unaware that Clifford was in the house.
Mr Hunt observed the court proceedings alongside relatives in the public gallery. She is shown carrying one dog and walking another before making her way into the house through a patio door.
CCTV shows crossbow killer on day of triple murder
Alison Morgan KC, who is leading the prosecution team, said evidence showed that Clifford had used Louise Hunt's phone to message John Hunt – about an hour before he murdered her.
Miss Morgan said Clifford had asked Mr Hunt if he would be late home from work.
Thinking it was from his daughter, Mr Hunt, who sat in the public gallery of the court with relatives, replied: "Late, I' m afraid. Everything OK sweetness?"
Jurors also saw footage of Hannah Hunt arriving home from work.
She was heard to say the name "Kyle" and utter an expletive shortly after entering the house.
Clifford was later seen leaving and climbing into a car.
Footage shows Kyle Clifford buying products in Toolstation and HalfordsFootage shows Kyle Clifford buying products in Toolstation and Halfords
Miss Morgan said Clifford shot Hannah Hunt with the crossbow when she returned from work, still in her beautician's workwear. Forensic scientist Martin Whittaker told the trial that Clifford's DNA was found in a bodily fluid on Louise Hunt's body.
She had been trying to call her mother and was heard saying "do you not know how to use your phone?" as she headed through the family's front door. He said that evidence showed that she and Clifford had sex, but Miss Morgan told jurors that the DNA evidence showed that Louise Hunt had been raped by Clifford before being killed.
Having been attacked by Clifford, the 28-year-old was able to call both the police and her partner, but died inside the property, the prosecutor said. Clifford claimed the evidence was explained by consensual sex, which had taken place on 23 June, when he was in a relationship with Louise Hunt.
Miss Morgan told jurors Hannah said: "My sister's ex-boyfriend has come in and shot us." Mr Whittaker told jurors of "any" chance of the type of fluid found remaining on a body for more than three days was "extremely small".
CCTV footage showed Clifford exiting the house at about 18:55, hiding what appeared to be the crossbow under white sheeting, and then driving off. "Up to 48 hours there is a good chance," he told the trial. "48 hours to 72 hours, there is a chance, but it is a small chance.
The trial has already been told Clifford bought the crossbow, six bolts and a cocking device for £350 online. "After 72 hours, it is an extremely small chance of even any (fluid)."
The former soldier is said to have been angered by the Hunt family being supportive of Louise breaking up with him. Mr Whittaker said the presence of the fluid could be explained if Louise Hunt had sex with Clifford on the day she died.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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