Triple killer raped ex-girlfriend in ‘violent, sexual act of spite’, court told

A triple killer raped his ex-girlfriend in a “violent, sexual act of spite” during an attack which saw him murder her and her sister with a crossbow and their mother with a butcher’s knife, a court has heard.

Kyle Clifford, who is being tried in his absence, is alleged to have become “enraged” when 25-year-old former partner Louise Hunt ended their 18-month relationship before he “carefully planned and executed” the murders on July 9 last year.

Cambridge Crown Court heard the defendant gained access to the family home by deceiving 61-year-old Carol Hunt, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, before stabbing her to death in a “brutal knife attack”.

After killing Carol and Louise, he fatally shot 28-year-old Hannah Hunt when she returned to the property in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after work.

After hearing some of the prosecution’s opening of the case the trial judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, told jurors that “shocking though the events are, we must be calm and collected” as he urged them to focus on the charge of rape.

Mr Hunt observed proceedings from the public gallery on Tuesday.

Opening the prosecution’s case, Alison Morgan KC told the jury: “It is not in dispute therefore that he murdered three members of the Hunt family – Carol, Louise and Hannah.

“It is also not in dispute that he was unlawfully in possession of a knife and a crossbow that day.

“He also accepts that he falsely imprisoned Louise Hunt during the course of the incident, restraining her against her will.”

The court heard that customers of Louise’s dog grooming business, based in a pod in the Hunt family’s garden, were using the gate at the side of the house “not realising what was happening” when Carol was murdered.

The jury panel was told a faint scream could be heard from the address shortly after Louise entered the house, and she was found to have been restrained with tape at the wrist and ankles.

Hannah is heard on audio at the Hunt family home saying “Kyle I swear to God” after returning home and appearing to find Kyle Clifford in the house, the court heard.

Ms Morgan said Hannah messaged her partner, Alex Klein, telling him to “call police… immediately. To mine. Now. Kyle here. Police now. He’s tying us up.”

“It was a violent, sexual act of spite, before he then killed her.

“You will have to determine that allegation against him.”

Clifford’s sister had messaged him on the day of the attacks asking him “what are you playing at?” when she realised he had taken the crossbow out with him.

The defendant told her he was doing nothing “illegal” and that he was shooting it in his friend’s back garden.

Following the attacks, Clifford, who served in the military from 2019 for around three years, became the subject of a manhunt for a number of hours before he was found injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, north London, after shooting himself in the chest with the crossbow.

The court heard Louise’s friends and family “hoped that the relationship would come to an end” after they became concerned about the way Clifford treated her.

The jury was told Louise had shared with her friends that he had a “nasty temper” and that he behaved in an “aggressive manner”, with her sister Hannah deeming him to be “disrespectful, rude and arrogant”.

Clifford had also been in relationships with other women while he was dating Louise “which he hid” from her, the court heard.

Louise made a note on her phone five days before the murders titled “When you’re sad, look”, which set out how Clifford was “racist”, had “commented he did not like transgender people” and had used “belittling language”.

The prosecutor said the defendant’s violent intentions were shown “through the use of weapons and his sexual preoccupations”.

Addressing the defendant’s motive to kill his victims, Ms Morgan said: “Louise instigated the end of the relationship, supported by her friends and family.

“In the days that followed, the message prompted the defendant to try to rekindle the relationship in various ways, all of which were rebuffed by Louise Hunt.

“This rejection angered the defendant.

“He was angry at Louise, but also at the Hunt family generally, as he correctly assumed that friends and family members had advised Louise to end the relationship with him.”

The prosecutor continued: “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 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.”

Concluding her opening to the jury, Ms Morgan said: “The prosecution’s case is that the defendant planned a terrible attack on Louise and her family, enraged by her rejection of him.

“That attack included an act of sexual violence, committed out of spite, when she was restrained and unable to escape from him.”

Clifford, of Enfield, north London, denies a single charge of rape.

The trial continues.