In London, a man named Kyle Clifford, aged 26, was found guilty of raping his ex-girlfriend during a brutal attack in which he murdered three women from the same family. The jury at Cambridge Crown Court arrived at their verdict after just 45 minutes of deliberations, confirming that Clifford raped his former partner, Louise Hunt, aged 25, amidst the assault. This violent rampage took place at the family residence located in a quiet neighborhood just north of the city.
Clifford had previously admitted in January to the murders of Louise, her sister Hannah, aged 28, and their mother, Carol, aged 61. The attack, perpetrated on July 9, 2024, involved the use of a crossbow and a 10-inch knife. The victims were closely related to John Hunt, a notable BBC horse racing commentator, being his wife and daughters.
The sentence for Clifford is scheduled for Tuesday. During the trial, he chose not to attend by refusing to leave his cell at the high-security Belmarsh Prison located in southeast London. Although he admitted to multiple offenses including murder and possession of weapons, he had initially denied the charge of raping Louise in January.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner, from the Major Crime Unit of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire, described Clifford’s nonappearance in court as an “absolute act of cowardice.” The attack unfolded when Clifford deceitfully gained entry into the family’s home. He did this by misleading Carol, claiming he was returning his ex-girlfriend’s possessions. Tragically, this was a guise, and he fatally stabbed Carol in the process.
Subsequently, Clifford concealed himself inside the home, waiting for Louise to return. Upon her arrival, she was restrained and raped before being murdered with the crossbow. Hannah encountered a similar fate when she returned home from work later that day.
Prosecutors argued that Clifford’s actions were premeditated and fueled by rage following the end of his 18-month relationship with Louise. They labeled the assault as a spiteful act of violence. During the proceedings, Judge Joel Bennathan referred to Clifford’s crimes as “dreadful” and nearly “unspeakable.”
In the aftermath, a widespread search for Clifford was initiated, culminating in his discovery the following day injured in a cemetery in north London. He suffered from a self-inflicted crossbow wound to the chest and currently needs assistance from a wheelchair. It was also brought to light during the investigation that, though not presented in court as a result of a judicial decision, Clifford had searched for content by misogynistic figure Andrew Tate a day prior to the offenses. Authorities believe that the violent misogyny advocated by Tate may have played a role in motivating Clifford’s vicious attacks.
