Kyle Clifford has appeared in court charged with the murders of the wife and two daughters of racing commentator John Hunt who were killed in a crossbow attack at their home in Bushey. Clifford, 26, was remanded into custody after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning and is due to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice in the afternoon. It comes after Carol Hunt, 61, and two of her and Mr Hunt’s daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were found fatally injured at the family home on Ashlyn Close in on 9 July.
Clifford has been charged with three counts of murder, false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons, said on Tuesday. Police were previously unable to speak to the suspect while he received treatment for an injury in hospital. Detective chief inspector Nick Gardner, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with the Hunt family and their loved ones as they continue to come to terms with their loss.
“Over the past couple of months, we have been working hard to gather as much evidence as possible and establish the full circumstances of what happened that day. “Today, we have managed to secure charges against Kyle Clifford in connection with the murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt. “Although it has taken some time to reach this stage, we can now move forward with the judicial process and seek justice for their family.
” Clifford, of Rendlesham Road in Enfield, north London, has been under arrest since 10 July, the force said. Lisa Ramsarran, chief crown prosecutor for the (CPS) in Thames and Chiltern, said: “Our thoughts remain with the Hunt family and all those who have been affected by this tragic incident.” Following the loss of three of their family members, Mr Hunt and his third daughter Amy said their devastation “cannot be put into words”.
In the statement released in July, the pair also described the aftermath of the attack as “an extremely difficult time for us”. Friends, family and colleagues paid tribute to the Hunts, praising them as “the most gentle, beautiful family”. Hannah’s boyfriend, Alex Klein, remembered “the love of my life” in a post on social media and shared a picture of the couple together.
He said: “RIP the love of my life, I will never forget you, stolen from me too soon. The brightest light in my life. My brave queen for life.
Until we meet again...
I love you Hansy.” BBC and ITV presenters were among those paying tribute to the family, with Radio 5 Live host Mark Chapman sending his love to Mr Hunt and his family ahead of the coverage of England’s Euro 2024 semi-final in the summer. A clearly emotional Mr Chapman said: “John Hunt is our colleague and our friend, not just to the current 5 Live sports team, but to all of those who’ve worked here with him over the past 20 years, and also to all of you who have enjoyed his superb commentaries.
So, on behalf of everybody connected to 5 Live Sports, our love and thoughts and support are with John and his family.”.
