Carol Hunt's courageous final words to crossbow killer moments before sick rampage

Mother Carol Hunt was brutally murdered by Kyle Clifford after she let him into her home. He disturbingly went on to rape his ex-girlfriend Louise and kill her sister, Hannah

Kyle Clifford had formed a sick plan to let himself into the Hunt's family abode before savagely killing those inside. He's now known as the crossbow killer.

Mother Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were murdered at their family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire last July. Louise's ex-boyfriend, Clifford, 26, carried out acts of "extreme violence" against the three women after she ended their 18-month relationship.

Carol, who was the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, died from stab wounds, while her daughters died from crossbow injuries after being the victims of a "targeted attack". The ex-soldier fled the murder scene and was found 24 hours later by police in a cemetery with self-inflicted injuries.

Last Thursday, he was found guilty of rape. He claimed his DNA was found on Louise after they had consensual sex 16 days before the murders, but it took a jury just minutes to return a guilty verdict. Today, he was handed a whole life term for the brutal murders.

On the early evening of July 9, 2024, Clifford knocked on their front door and told Carol he had a card for the family to say goodbye, and that he wanted to return Louise's possessions. A transcript of their conversation, caught on CCTV, was read out in court, and Clifford could be heard thanking Carol for allowing him to be "part of the family for 18 months".

He said: "Your family has shown me love and kindness." Carol was heard telling Clifford: "Maybe, maybe think in the next relationship... the way you are and maybe try and change [inaudible]. If you carry on like this, you'll end up on your own." Clifford replied: "I've started therapy as well", before Carol told him: "I don't think you're a nasty person."

After the heart-to-heart, Carol then told Clifford, "Well I wish you luck Kyle," before he asked for a bag to put in Louise's possessions. But within a minute of stepping inside the property after Carol let him in, a series of screams were heard, the court was told. Prosecutors stated it was part of a "deceit" to trick his way into the home before he stabbed Carol to death.

Alison Morgan KC told Cambridge Crown Court: "The attack was carefully planned and executed, involving the deceit of Louise's mother Carol Hunt, in order to gain access to the family home, followed by a brutal knife attack upon her. The defendant then waited for Louise to enter the property, before restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her with a crossbow. He then killed Louise's sister Hannah Hunt with the crossbow, when she returned to the property after work."

Mrs Morgan explained: "The defendant approaches the front door of the property, with the rucksack on his back and carrying the plastic bag. He knocks on the door. Carol Hunt opens the door. A conversation then takes place in which some parts can be heard. It is alleged the defendant was seeking to get inside the property by suggesting he wanted to return the items of property and then asking if Carol had another bag to put the items into."

The jury was shown the below transcript:

Kyle Clifford [KC]: ‘Hey I’m just err dropping off some of err Louise’s stuff’
Carol Hunt [CH]: ‘oo ok’
KC: ‘You ok’
CH: ‘Yeh how are you Kyle’
KC: ‘I’m good thank you, what's wrong, you look like’
CH: ‘I’ve seen a ghost’
KC: ‘Ohhh…yeh I got you guys a card as well to say bye, is John in, his car is (inaudible, points in direction of car)?’
CH: ‘No he’s working he’s gone up to London so yeh’
KC: ‘I was thinking to myself it was probably very unlikely, if I come late at night to say goodbye to him but (inaudible) come late at night
CH: [Carol speaks but you can’t hear what she is saying]
KC: ‘Oh yeh, no’
CH: [Carol continues to talk but you can’t hear what is being said]
KC: [Kyle responds but it is inaudible]
CH: '...maybe, maybe think in the next relationship… the way you are, and maybe try and change [inaudible] If you carry on like this you’ll end up on your own'
KC: ‘I’ve started therapy as well’
CH: ‘Have you? [audible]’
KC: ‘Ermmm’
CH: ‘…relationship to relationship and it never works out and then there’s a lot of issues…I don’t think you’re a nasty person...’
KC: ‘Yeh I understand …I’ve got no negative thoughts about our relationship…you know it wasn’t…don’t know how to word it….it was like… [inaudible]. If I could go back in time I wouldn’t like not do it, you know, I’ve learnt so much and yeh’
CH: Carol speaks but you can’t hear what she is saying
KC: [Inaudible] ‘No one is though are they, We’ve all got stuff to work on, Maybe just some more than others like myself, but I’ll get there’
CH: ‘So how do you feel in yourself? …[inaudible] you still feeling upset?'
KC: ‘Erm You know what the first week [inaudible] not right’
CH: ‘ You know she’s been crying [inaudible]…’
KC: ‘Yeh I was bed bound and I couldn’t do anything after that erm you know like I had a conversation with my parents, I was like opening up to people, I re downloaded Instagram, I was messaging old friends and saying to them like are yous lot free they all understood, I’ve been meeting up with old army friends, like stuff like that which has been very helpful, and therapy as well which has given me an understanding of like A) why I am the way I am and B) if erm how to move past it, like obviously everyone is who they are can’t help that but can always understand what they are saying [inaudible], like you are who you are but you can change certain personalities, I think is what they call it, like temper or, and trauma from the past from family
CH: '[Inaudible]... past…you know you don’t want to end up like that’
KC: [scoffs] ‘Yeh of course’
CH: '[Inaudible]... Hopefully like you..learn a lot…each other now’
KC: '[Inaudible]...Of course…say like…that’s why they say old people are so wise….they’ve lived through life and got all that experience they can look back at where they’ve gone wrong’
CH: ‘Yes well do do that Kyle…[inaudible]'
KC: ‘Where is she, working?’
CH: ‘She’s working…[inaudible]’
KC: ‘They’re going on holiday as well aren’t they?’
CH: ‘Yeh yeh’
KC: ‘Ah right yeh’
CH: [Inaudible]
KC: '[Inaudible]... gone?’
CH: ‘Go up there... [inaudible]'
KC: ‘Oh they broke up?!’
CH: ‘Yeh.. [inaudible]’
KC: ‘I think erm…[inaudible]’
CH: ‘Well I wish you luck Kyle’
KC: ‘Oh do you have plastic bag to put this stuff in I have got you a card as well. Here you go’
CH: ' [Inaudible]... will a black bag?’

Mrs Morgan said within a minute of entering the property, Clifford had killed Carol. She said: "The defendant entered the property, having been let in by Carol. Within a minute at 2.40pm screams can be heard from a female. A long scream is followed by four shorter screams or shouts. There are then banging sounds. The prosecution alleges that the defendant attacked Carol, using the knife, in this period, having just entered the property. As we will come to, Carol sustained significant knife wounds."

Clifford then returned to his car to collect a crossbow, which he carried hidden under a white blanket, and waited for Louise to enter the property before "restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her" with the weapon. When her sister Hannah returned home from work, he also attacked her with the crossbow. When police arrived to the property, Louise and Carol were dead and Hannah was alive with a crossbow bolt in her chest. Sadly, she too could not be saved and died soon after.

If you would like to seek help, you can visit the Women's Aid information support page on their website here. Survivors can also reach help through the Solace Advice Line by calling 08088025565 or by emailing them at advice@solacewomensaid.org. Alternatively, you can also contact A-Sisterhood via call on 07968369588 or by email at paula@a-sisterhood.org.uk.