Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford refusing to attend courtroom to be sentenced for murders of mom and two daughters – newest updates

The prosecution is outlining the information of the case. Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC says Kyle Clifford dedicated acts of “extreme violence” towards the Hunt household.

“He correctly assumed friends and family members had advised Louise to end the relationship,” Morgan advised the courtroom.

“He set about planning a catastrophic attack on the Hunt family.”

“Those events came to be because of their relationship ending as it did towards the later stages in June of 2024,” Morgan continued.

“Louise Hunt instigated the end of that relationship. She was supported in doing so by her friends and family.

“In the days that followed, the defendant was prompted to try to rekindle that relationship.

“When Louise Hunt held firm, that rejection angered the defendant. He was angry, not just at Louise Hunt, but also at the Hunt family generally.”

Ben Quinn

Ben Quinn is reporting from Cambridge Crown Court docket

Kyle Clifford has refused to be current in courtroom by way of video hyperlink for his sentencing, these gathered have been advised by Mr Justice Joel Bennathan.

There had been dialogue about placing into restraints and bringing to the courtroom remotely however the decide stated he had declined

“If the defendant lacks the court to face today so be it but I am conscious that part of this morning will be about people paying tribute to the three women who died and I am not having anything disrupt that,” he stated.

“I will address the defendant on the basis that no doubt my comments and those of the family will reach him.”

John Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy, are sitting on one facet of Court docket 1 with different others round them.

The decide stated at present can be a “challenging” day and reminds these in attendance to stay as calm as attainable in the course of the listening to. “We really must preserve quiet and decorum in this room,” he stated.

The listening to has begun. Kyle Clifford was requested to attend at present’s sentencing in particular person or by way of video hyperlink however the decide, Justice Bennathan, says he declined.

Clifford additionally stayed in his cell at HMP Belmarsh for his rape trial.

“If the defendant lacks the courage to face today, so be it,” Justice Bennathan stated.

Kyle Clifford beforehand pleaded responsible to murdering Louise, Hannah and Carol Hunt, one depend of false imprisonment and two prices of possession of an offensive weapon.

He was final week discovered responsible of raping Louise Hunt on the day of the triple homicide, having beforehand denied committing it.

Listed here are the important thing dates and instances earlier than and after the murders:

Louise Hunt ends her relationship with Kyle Clifford, telling him in a message: “I feel like it’s been broken and I can’t ignore how I’ve been feeling or made to feel in our relationship over the course of the year.”

Clifford makes web searches in relation to crossbows and visits web sites the place they may very well be bought.

Clifford purchases a Hori-Zone Kornet MXT-405 compound crossbow, a pack of six crossbow bolts and a rope-cocking system by means of Tactical Archery. The defendant additionally buys a £219 CO2 Glock air pistol from The Air Gun Centre in Essex. It was not delivered earlier than the murders and was recalled by the corporate when it heard in regards to the assaults.

Clifford buys two petrol cans from Halfords and two rolls of duct tape from B&Q. He searches the right way to uncock a crossbow and fired a crossbow bolt right into a tree.

1.07pm: Clifford leaves his dwelling tackle armed with a knife and a crossbow.

1.48pm: Clifford searches “horse racing today” on the web to see if Louise Hunt’s father, BBC commentator John Hunt, was working that day.

2.32pm: Clifford knocks on the door of the Hunt household dwelling with a black rucksack containing a knife and tells Carol Hunt he desires to return objects of property.

2.39pm-2.45pm: Carol Hunt is murdered by Clifford in a knife assault.

3.10pm: Clifford returns to his automotive to retrieve the crossbow hidden below a white fabric or blanket.

4.13pm: A faint scream is heard shortly after Louise Hunt enters the household dwelling.

4.13pm-6.50pm: Louise Hunt is restrained with duct tape round her ankles and her wrists and is raped by Clifford.

5.37pm-5.43pm: Clifford checks Louise Hunt’s cell phone to see who she had been in touch with and what she had been taking a look at on Instagram.

5.44pm: Clifford tells his sister he was capturing his crossbow at a pal’s home and that it was not “illegal” after she requested why he had taken it out.

5.52pm: Clifford messages John Hunt from Louise Hunt’s cellphone, asking: “What time are you home?”

5.57pm: Clifford searches “if I unplug my smoke detector will it go off”, with the prosecution saying he had contemplated using hearth to destroy proof.

6.50pm: Louise Hunt is murdered with a crossbow shortly earlier than Hannah Hunt arrives on the property.

6.51pm: Hannah Hunt realises Clifford is on the tackle and shouts “What is wrong with you?”, with screams heard coming from the property.

6.52pm: Hannah Hunt messages her accomplice: “Call police leggy. Immediately. To mine. Now. Kyle here. POLCOE (sic) NOW. HE’S TYING US UP.”

6.54pm: Hannah Hunt is shot with a crossbow.

6.55pm: Clifford walks away from the property with the crossbow hidden below the sheet and the black rucksack.

6.57pm: Feminine heard within the property screaming “Oh my God, no” as Hannah Hunt realises her sister and mom have been attacked.

6.58pm: Hannah Hunt makes use of Carol Hunt’s cellphone to dial 999 and identifies Clifford because the attacker to the decision handler.

7.10pm: Emergency companies attend the Hunt household dwelling – Carol and Louise Hunt are discovered useless and unsuccessful resuscitation makes an attempt are made on Hannah Hunt.

4.49am-5.18am: Clifford is seen in a cemetery within the Lavender Gardens space of Enfield, north London.

4.20pm: Firearms officers find Clifford in a wooded space with a loaded crossbow earlier than he shoots himself within the chest with the weapon.

4.51pm: Clifford is formally arrested after receiving medical help.

Clifford is lastly match to be interviewed by police the place he says “sorry” and “what I have done is atrocious”.

John Hunt, a BBC racing commentator, and his surviving daughter Amy have arrived on the courtroom and have been allowed to enter Court docket 1. They’ve beforehand stated their devastation over the murders “cannot be put into words”. The listening to is predicted to begin in about 5 minutes.

Guardian reporter Ben Quinn is among the many journalists (from broadcasters and nationwide newspapers) at Cambridge Crown Court docket overlaying the sentencing and can be offering updates all through the day.

Former soldier Kyle Clifford is dealing with life behind bars as he is because of be sentenced at present for the crossbow murders of his ex-partner and her sister, and for fatally stabbing their mom.

Clifford, 26, shot useless Louise Hunt, 25, and her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, with a crossbow and fatally stabbed their mom, Carol Hunt, 61, throughout a four-hour assault at their dwelling in Bushey, Hertfordshire, final July.

Clifford, of Enfield, north London, was additionally discovered responsible of raping Louise Hunt earlier than he killed her. The assault occurred two weeks after she ended their 18-month relationship.

The ladies have been the spouse and daughters of the BBC racing commentator John Hunt.

The listening to at Cambridge Crown Court docket will begin at 10:30 GMT. The sentence can be handed at 14:00 GMT.

We’ll deliver you the most recent developments from the courtroom all through the day. Count on to listen to some distressing and doubtlessly graphic content material because the prosecution outlines the information of the case.