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| Bushey crossbow killer planned 'act of sexual violence' | Bushey crossbow killer planned 'act of sexual violence' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Kyle Clifford has already admitted murdering Carol Hunt, left, and her daughters Louise and Hannah | Kyle Clifford has already admitted murdering Carol Hunt, left, and her daughters Louise and Hannah |
| Warning: This article contains details that some people may find distressing | Warning: This article contains details that some people may find distressing |
| A "cool, calm" evaluation of evidence shows that an ex-soldier who killed a mother and two of her daughters is also guilty of rape, a prosecutor has told jurors. | A "cool, calm" evaluation of evidence shows that an ex-soldier who killed a mother and two of her daughters is also guilty of rape, a prosecutor has told jurors. |
| Kyle Clifford, 26, has admitted murdering ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024. | Kyle Clifford, 26, has admitted murdering ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024. |
| But Clifford, who was armed with a crossbow and a butcher's knife, has denied raping Louise before killing her at the Hunt family home. | But Clifford, who was armed with a crossbow and a butcher's knife, has denied raping Louise before killing her at the Hunt family home. |
| In her closing speech on Thursday, prosecution barrister Helen Morgan KC said that Clifford was "beyond any reasonable doubt" guilty of raping Louise. | In her closing speech on Thursday, prosecution barrister Helen Morgan KC said that Clifford was "beyond any reasonable doubt" guilty of raping Louise. |
| The three women were the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt. | The three women were the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt. |
| Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court have heard that Louise ended her relationship with Clifford more than two weeks before he killed her. | Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court have heard that Louise ended her relationship with Clifford more than two weeks before he killed her. |
| Forensic scientist Martin Whittaker told the trial that Clifford's DNA was found in bodily fluid on Louise's body. | Forensic scientist Martin Whittaker told the trial that Clifford's DNA was found in bodily fluid on Louise's body. |
| He said the evidence showed that she and Clifford had had sex. | He said the evidence showed that she and Clifford had had sex. |
| Clifford, of Enfield, north London, said the evidence was explained by consensual sex which had taken place on 23 June, when he was in a relationship with Louise. | Clifford, of Enfield, north London, said the evidence was explained by consensual sex which had taken place on 23 June, when he was in a relationship with Louise. |
| Miss Morgan said the DNA evidence showed that Louise was raped by Clifford on 9 July before being murdered. | Miss Morgan said the DNA evidence showed that Louise was raped by Clifford on 9 July before being murdered. |
| Kyle Clifford, pictured at a previous court hearing, has not appeared at Cambridge Crown Court for the rape trial | |
| She said evidence showed that Louise had been alone in the house with Clifford, after her mother had been stabbed, from shortly before 16:15 BST until 18:49 BST. | She said evidence showed that Louise had been alone in the house with Clifford, after her mother had been stabbed, from shortly before 16:15 BST until 18:49 BST. |
| Evidence showed she had been restrained and gagged. Miss Morgan added: "The only explanation is that she was raped while she was restrained." | Evidence showed she had been restrained and gagged. Miss Morgan added: "The only explanation is that she was raped while she was restrained." |
| She argued, in a closing speech, that Clifford had planned a "murderous" act and an act of sexual violence. | She argued, in a closing speech, that Clifford had planned a "murderous" act and an act of sexual violence. |
| "If he could not have Louise, no-one else was going to, and he was going to take down her family with her," said Miss Morgan. | "If he could not have Louise, no-one else was going to, and he was going to take down her family with her," said Miss Morgan. |
| "[It was] planned sexual violence as a means of acting out his spite in a brutal act before killing Louise Hunt." | "[It was] planned sexual violence as a means of acting out his spite in a brutal act before killing Louise Hunt." |
| Miss Morgan told jurors they had to ask whether Clifford raped Louise on 9 July 2024. | Miss Morgan told jurors they had to ask whether Clifford raped Louise on 9 July 2024. |
| She added: "A cool, calm view of that evidence shows beyond any reasonable doubt that the answer to that question should be 'Yes'." | She added: "A cool, calm view of that evidence shows beyond any reasonable doubt that the answer to that question should be 'Yes'." |
| The rape trial started on Tuesday at Cambridge Crown Court | The rape trial started on Tuesday at Cambridge Crown Court |
| Clifford, who is in custody, has not attended the trial. | Clifford, who is in custody, has not attended the trial. |
| He has not given evidence and no defence evidence has been called. | He has not given evidence and no defence evidence has been called. |
| Clifford admitted murdering the three women, false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons at a hearing in Cambridge on 22 January. He has not yet been sentenced for those offences. | Clifford admitted murdering the three women, false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons at a hearing in Cambridge on 22 January. He has not yet been sentenced for those offences. |
| Phil Bradley KC, who has led Clifford's legal team, is due to make a closing argument in Clifford's defence on Thursday afternoon. | Phil Bradley KC, who has led Clifford's legal team, is due to make a closing argument in Clifford's defence on Thursday afternoon. |
| Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |