Bushey triple killer handed three whole life orders
Kyle Clifford has been given three life sentences for murdering his ex-girlfriend, her sister, and their mother in a crossbow attack
Last updated 11th Mar 2025
Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing today, but has been handed three whole life orders for murdering his ex-girlfriend and her sister with a crossbow, and their mother with a knife, meaning he will never be released.
He previously admitted to the murders and was also found guilty of the rape of Louise Hunt at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court.
The 26-year-old from Enfield killed 25-year-old Louise, her 28-year-old sister Hannah, and their 61-year-old mother Carol on 9 July last year.
In court last week, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan said Clifford's crimes were "almost unspeakable" and praised the Hunt family for their dignity.
Jurors took 45 minutes to convict Clifford of raping Louise Hunt. He also refused to attend the trial, leaving the dock empty while John Hunt, husband and father of the victims, sat in the public gallery.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner said: "There was overwhelming evidence that Clifford raped Louise Hunt as well as murdering her, her mother Carol, and sister Hannah. This was an appalling attack on a family."
After the murders, Clifford fled for 20 hours before shooting himself with a crossbow as police closed in. He survived but was left paralysed and spent 10 weeks in hospital before being interviewed. He refused to answer police questions.
Clifford also previously admitted charges of false imprisonment and possession of offensive weapons.
"They knew about the weapons, they knew."
At his sentencing today (11/03) Racing Commentator John Hunt told the court he wanted to speak 'eye-to-eye' with the man who murdered three members of his family.
He said: "When I was first invited to provide a victim impact statement, I initially misunderstood its purpose, do I really need to detail the impact of having three quarters of my family murdered?
"But then I realised that his was my final opportunity to say what I wanted to say, specifically to you, Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family, who will carry guilt forwards with them for the rest of their lives.
"They knew about the weapons, they knew."
John Hunt continued: "I also want to confirm to the world the truth, especially how Louise conducted herself within a textbook mature break-up on her part, understanding the conflict of saying goodbye to someone she once loved, but not allowing those memories to cloud her certain knowledge that you, Kyle, simply failed to be the person she needed. You failed.
"I am so proud of all my girls.
"Unlike you, Kyle, at every step of their lives, they made the correct choices to improve themselves as people.
"Louise, she enjoyed more success and fulfilment in one morning than you achieved in your entire miserable life."
Mr Hunt also thanked jurors who convicted Clifford of rape - telling them they're also victims of his 'callous, cowardly and vindictive behaviour'.
Ahead of the sentencing earlier, the court also heard how Clifford had two conversations with his brother Bradley Clifford, who is in prison serving a life sentence for murder, in the days before his attack at the Hunt family home and mentioned he had ordered a crossbow.
The conversations, on July 1 and July 8 last year, were both recorded due to Bradley Clifford being in prison.
The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, said Clifford "never told his brother he was planning to hurt someone".
"...jealous man soaked in self pity, who holds women in utter contempt."
Sentencing Clifford to a whole-life order, Judge Bennathan said: "The evidence I have heard shows you to be a jealous man soaked in self-pity - a man who holds women in utter contempt.
"This is no occasion to subject family and friends of your victims to any delay or suspense.
"I therefore make clear at once that for each of these three murders, the sentence will be one of life imprisonment with a whole-life order.
"That means a sentence from which you will never be released."
Mr Justice Bennathan continued: "Your brutal and cowardly attack had been planned over about 11 days.
"You conducted extensive research into the movements of Louise's father John, into her mother's Facebook page, into buying a crossbow, a knife and an air pistol, and even into the weather on the day of the attack."
The judge added that Clifford wrote letters to his own family that were "dripping with self-pity".
Addressing the victim impact statements made by John and Amy Hunt, he added: "They showed a gentle heroism of which you, Kyle Clifford, can only dream."
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