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Chilling Moment Crossbow Killer Buys Rope To Restrain Bbc Star’s Daughter Before ‘raping Her’ In Triple Murder
THIS is the moment a crossbow killer bought items to restrain his ex before raping her in the triple murder of a BBC star’s family, a court heard.
Kyle Clifford allegedly carried out “acts of extreme violence” against his ex Louise Hunt, 25, her mum Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28.
Kyle Clifford was filmed inside a Toolstation buying rope for the triple murderPA He also bought petrol cans in Halfords after plotting to burn the evidence, it was saidPA FacebookLouise was restrained before being shot with a crossbow[/caption] InstagramHer sister Hannah was also murdered in the horror[/caption] FacebookMum Carol, pictured with husband John, was stabbed to death[/caption]The 26-year-old has pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, a charge of false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.
But Clifford has denied raping Louise on July 9 – the same day the family were slaughtered at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Footage has now been released that shows the former soldier buying chilling tools used in the triple murder.
He had hatched a “carefully planned and executed” plot to attack Louise and her family after she broke up with him, jurors heard.
On June 28, Clifford was seen in a Toolstation in Enfield, North London, buying 30m of polypropylene rope for £14.75.
Then on July 4 – five days before the horror – he was filmed inside a Halfords buying petrol cans, which he was originally planning to use to destroy evidence, it was said.
Later that day, Clifford bought two rolls of tape in a B&Q, which the court heard was used to restrain Louise before he allegedly raped then killed her.
Jurors were also told the security worker spent £357 on a crossbow and six bolts and £89 on a “high-level butchering knife” from Amazon.
He then wrote a note to his family saying he did not “want to live my life without her” as he prepared to put the murderous plan into action.
On July 9, Clifford tricked his way into Louise’s home after claiming to Carol that wanted to give her belongings back following their break up.
At around 2.40pm, screams and banging sounds were heard as Carol, who was married to BBC racing commentator John, was “brutally attacked” five times with a knife.
Jurors heard Clifford then moved the mum’s body to a snug room and used various blankets to cover her up.
PAClifford had hatched the plan after Louise broke up with him, it was said[/caption] FacebookShe had told friends he had a ‘nasty temper’[/caption]Louise then entered the home through a back door at 4.12pm after working at her dog grooming business in the garden.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said a minute later, a “faint scream/shout” was heard coming from the home.
This was followed by a “high pitch scream” at 4.26pm then banging noises as Louise was “restrained” using tape as she was “silenced” and left unable to fight back, she added.
Ms Morgan said: “The prosecution alleges that the defendant raped Louise Hunt at some point during this period and whilst she was being restrained by him.
“It is not possible to say where the restraint and rape took place within the property, save that Louise must have been in the snug room where Carol’s body was located, facing away from the defendant, at the time when she was murdered with the crossbow.”
The court heard Louise was restrained and gagged for more than two hours, during which time Clifford messaged her dad from her phone asking when he was going to be home.
He also searched about smoke alarms on Louise’s phone in what the prosecution said – along with two empty petrol cans in the boot of his car – suggested he contemplated burning evidence.
TIMELINE OF HORROR
At 6.50pm, a loud “whooshing” was heard, which was “the sound of the crossbow being fired to kill Louise Hunt”, Ms Morgan said.
Tragically at the same time, Hannah arrived back home and asked her mum “you don’t know how to use your phone” – unaware both Carol and Louise had been murdered.
She then realised Clifford was inside the home and asked him: “Kyle I swear to god…what the f**k Kyle I swear to f***ing god”.
The court heard Hannah was then heard screaming “oh my god”, before she yelled: “What the f**k is wrong with you, what is wrong with you?”
At 6.52pm, she bravely managed to message her partner to tell him to call the police as Clifford was there and “tying us up”.
Two minutes later, another “whoosh” was heard, which jurors were told is believed to have been Clifford firing the crossbow at Hannah.
As he fled the home armed with the weapon, she was heard to utter “mum, Louise” before screaming “oh my god, no”.
How the triple killing unfolded
– June 26 2024
Louise Hunt ends her relationship with Clifford, telling him in a message: “I feel like it’s been broken and I can’t ignore how I’ve been feeling or made to feel in our relationship over the course of the year.”
– June 30
Clifford makes internet searches in relation to crossbows and visits websites where they could be purchased.
The defendant then goes on to access pornography.
– July 1
Clifford accesses the Facebook page of Carol Hunt.
The defendant also has a conversation with his brother about buying a crossbow and conducts searches for air rifles.
– July 3
Clifford purchases a Hori-Zone Kornet MXT-405 compound crossbow, a pack of six crossbow bolts and a rope-cocking device through Tactical Archery.
The defendant also buys a £219 CO2 Glock air pistol from The Air Gun Centre in Essex. It was not delivered before the murders and was recalled by the company when it heard about the attacks.
– July 4
Clifford buys two petrol cans from Halfords and two rolls of duct tape from B&Q.
The defendant searches how to uncock a crossbow and fired a crossbow bolt into a tree.
Louise Hunt makes a note on her phone 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”.
– July 5
Clifford conducts research about sourcing knives.
– July 6
Clifford receives an update on his purchase of a high-level 10in butchering steel knife worth £89. Packaging for the knife was found at his home address but the knife was never found by police.
– July 9
1.07pm: Clifford leaves his home address armed with a knife and a crossbow.
1.48pm: Clifford searches “horse racing today” on the internet to see if Louise Hunt’s father, BBC commentator John Hunt, was working that day.
2.32pm: Clifford knocks on the door of the Hunt family home with a black rucksack allegedly containing a knife and tells Carol Hunt he wants to return items of property.
2.39pm-2.45pm: Carol Hunt is murdered by Clifford in a “brutal” knife attack, with screams and banging sounds heard coming from the property.
3.10pm: Clifford returns to his car to retrieve the crossbow hidden under a white cloth or blanket.
4.13pm: A faint scream is heard shortly after Louise Hunt enters the family home.
4.13pm-6.50pm: Louise Hunt is restrained with duct tape around her ankles and her wrists and the prosecution allege she is raped by Clifford.
5.37pm-5.43pm: The prosecution allege Clifford checks Louise Hunt’s mobile phone to see who she had been in contact with and what she had been looking at on Instagram.
5.44pm: Clifford tells his sister he was shooting his crossbow at a friend’s house and that it was not “illegal” after she asked why he had taken it out.
5.52pm: Clifford messages John Hunt from Louise Hunt’s phone, asking: “What time are you home?”
5.57pm: Clifford searches “if I unplug my smoke detector will it go off”, with the prosecution saying he had contemplated the use of fire to destroy evidence.
6.50pm: Louise Hunt is murdered with a crossbow shortly before Hannah Hunt arrives at the property.
6.51pm: Hannah Hunt realises Clifford is at the address and shouts “What is wrong with you?”, with high-pitched squealing and screaming heard coming from the property.
6.52pm: Hannah Hunt messages her partner: “Call police leggy. Immediately. To mine. Now. Kyle here. POLCOE (sic) NOW. HE’S TYING US UP.”
6.54pm: Hannah Hunt is shot with a crossbow.
6.55pm: Clifford walks away from the property with the crossbow hidden under the sheet and the black rucksack.
6.57pm: Female heard in the property screaming “Oh my God, no” as Hannah Hunt realises her sister and mother have been attacked.
6.58pm: Hannah Hunt uses Carol Hunt’s phone to dial 999 and identifies Clifford as the attacker to the call handler.
7.10pm: Emergency services attend the Hunt family home – Carol and Louise Hunt are found dead and unsuccessful resuscitation attempts are made on Hannah Hunt.
Hannah called 999 at 6.57pm despite her horror injuries to tell officers that Clifford had attacked her, Louise and Carol.
When police arrived, they discovered Hannah collapsed in the doorway and Louise bound in the snug next to her mum’s body.
Clifford meanwhile fled to a cemetery in Enfield, North London, close to his home – sparking a manhunt.
As officers eventually tracked him day the following day, the killer shot himself with the crossbow.
Clifford was left paralysed from the waist down and still requires a wheelchair after being rushed to hospital.
The court heard in his first police interview last September, he told officers “sorry” and said “what I have done is atrocious”.
Jurors heard Clifford and Louise had been in a relationship but she broke up with him in June 2024 due to his “nasty temper”.
He also had secret relationships with two other women behind Louise’s back – including one still ongoing at the time of the horror.
In the days that followed, the killer bombarded her with messages that were “rebuffed” by his ex, jurors were told.
The prosecutor said it is “not in dispute” that Clifford murdered Carol and her daughters or that he was in possession of a knife and crossbow.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
She added that the killer accepts that he “falsely imprisoned Louise Hunt during the course of the incident, restraining her against her will”.
Ms Morgan told jurors the only count they must come to a verdict on is the rape charge against Louise.
She continued: “During the course of this prolonged incident, the prosecution alleges that the defendant raped Louise Hunt.
“It was a violent, sexual act of spite, before he then killed her. You will have to determine that allegation against him.”
Clifford denies one count of rape
The trial continues.
FacebookLouise had broken up with Clifford around a month before the killing[/caption] FacebookClifford had hatched a murderous plan that included deceiving mum Carol, it was said[/caption] FacebookHannah was shot dead as she returned home[/caption]
