Bushey triple murderer Kyle Clifford to be sentenced
Clifford, 26 from Enfield, killed 25-year-old Louise Hunt, her 28-year-old sister Hannah, and their 61-year-old mother Carol on 9 July last year
Bushey triple murderer Kyle Clifford is being sentenced this afternoon, after the 26 year old admitted to murdering his ex-girlfriend, her sister, and their mother at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
He was also found guilty of raping his former partner during the attack.
Clifford, from Enfield, killed 25-year-old Louise Hunt, her 28-year-old sister Hannah, and their 61-year-old mother Carol on 9 July last year. He used a crossbow to murder Louise and Hannah and stabbed Carol to death with a knife.
At Cambridge Crown Court last week (6 March) when he was found guilty of raping Louise Hunt, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan said Clifford committed "dreadful" crimes that were "almost unspeakable."
The judge paid tribute to the Hunt family, saying: "They conducted themselves with huge dignity and restraint and I pay tribute to them."
Jurors took around 45 minutes to find Clifford guilty of raping Louise Hunt following a trial. He had refused to attend court throughout the proceedings, leaving the secure dock empty while John Hunt, husband and father of the victims, and other family members sat in the public gallery.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: "This was an appalling attack on a family.
"Clifford has remained a coward up until the end by refusing to appear at court and face up to his actions. Great lengths were made to ensure he could attend court including the location chosen for the trial, but Clifford chose to stay away.
"In stark contrast, the Hunt family have shown extreme strength and dignity throughout. Our thoughts remain with them at this time."
Senior Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Lisa Kiff said: "Kyle Clifford is a murderer and a rapist who carried out a savage act of violence against three women. His crimes are among the very worst I have encountered in my career, and he now rightly faces a life sentence behind bars.
"On behalf of the CPS, I want to express my heartfelt sympathies to the Hunt family. I have been personally touched by their strength, dignity and courage in the face of overwhelming trauma. We hope some solace can be found in today's verdict and that they feel justice has been secured for Carol, Hannah, and Louise."
During the trial, the court was shown CCTV footage of Clifford in the hours before the attack. He had tricked his way into the home, telling Carol Hunt that he was returning some of Louise's possessions. Once inside, he fatally stabbed Carol before retrieving a crossbow from his car. He then raped and killed Louise while she was working in a dog grooming pod in the garden, before shooting Hannah when she returned home from work.
After the murders, Clifford went on the run for 20 hours before turning the crossbow on himself as police closed in on him. He survived but was left paralysed from the chest down and spent 10 weeks in hospital before he was fit to be interviewed by officers. In a recorded interview, Clifford refused to answer questions, responding "no comment" when asked about the killings and notes found on his phone.
One note, addressed to his family, said: "Please don't think of this as me throwing my life away. I have lived and I am grateful for everything and everyone that has been a part of it. It is now my time to leave and be at peace as this is what I ultimately want."
Another note, written to himself, stated: "I don't want to live my life without her. I don't want to experience new things. Nothing I can think of can make me happy. I know I could have gone to therapy, found faith and become a new better person but I just simply don't want to."
Clifford previously pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one count of false imprisonment against Louise Hunt, and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.
He'll be sentenced today (11th March).