Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford ‘raped ex-girlfriend after rejection’

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A triple killer raped his ex-girlfriend in a “violent, sexual act of spite” throughout an assault that noticed him homicide her and her sister with a crossbow and their mom with a butcher’s knife, a courtroom heard.

Kyle Clifford, 26, is alleged to have turn out to be “indignant” when 25-year-old former companion Louise Hunt ended their 18-month relationship.

Cambridge Crown Court docket heard Clifford murdered Ms Hunt, her mom Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28, after deceiving his means into the household dwelling in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July 2024.

The defendant, of Enfield, north London, admitted homicide, false imprisonment and possession of offensive weapons, however denied raping Louise Hunt.

Opening the prosecution’s case, Alison Morgan KC mentioned Clifford “rigorously deliberate and executed” the assaults on the cul-de-sac property.

She instructed jurors Clifford had admitted the murders, however they had been to find out if he raped Louise Hunt.

Carol Hunt was stabbed to dying, whereas Hannah and Louise suffered deadly accidents from a crossbow bolt.

The three ladies had been the spouse and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, who noticed the courtroom proceedings on Tuesday from the general public gallery.

“Throughout the course of this extended incident, the prosecution alleges that the defendant raped Louise Hunt,” Miss Morgan mentioned.

“It was a violent, sexual act of spite, earlier than he then killed her.”

She mentioned Clifford gained entry to the household dwelling by deceiving Carol Hunt, earlier than stabbing her to dying in a “brutal knife assault”.

Miss Morgan mentioned Clifford acted underneath the guise of dropping off gadgets owned by Louise earlier than stepping contained in the property.

In a transcript learn to the courtroom, Clifford spoke with Mrs Hunt about relationships not figuring out and she or he instructed him: “I do not assume you are a nasty individual.”

The dialog was picked up by a house safety system.

After murdering Mrs Hunt, it was alleged he then waited inside the home for Louise, who was working in a pod within the household’s backyard, the place she ran a canine grooming enterprise.

Canines had been dropped off “with out anyone figuring out what was happening within the property”, the courtroom heard.

After Louise got here inside, he restrained, raped after which murdered her with a crossbow, jurors heard.

Miss Morgan mentioned Clifford claimed the forensic proof of intercourse was defined by consensual intercourse, which had taken place on 23 June.

She mentioned that argument was “untenable”.

Defence counsel Phil Bradley KC mentioned jurors needed to determine the central difficulty of whether or not the scientific findings may very well be defined by “sexual exercise on 23 June” or by “rape on 9 July”.

Prosecutors mentioned Clifford killed Hannah Hunt with the crossbow when she got here dwelling after work.

Miss Morgan mentioned Hannah messaged her companion, telling him to name the police instantly after she was fatally injured.

Clifford checked Mr Hunt wouldn’t be dwelling that day “by looking out on-line to see what racing occasions had been going down”, she instructed the courtroom.

Clifford and Louise had been in a relationship for 18 months after assembly through on-line courting, the prosecutor added.

“Louise Hunt is described by her buddies within the highest phrases as being a caring, constructive and completely happy individual,” she mentioned.

“Nonetheless, family and friends had been involved concerning the impact of her relationship with the defendant.”

Louise instructed one buddy that Clifford had a “nasty mood” and he had “behaved in an aggressive method” a number of occasions, the trial heard.

Miss Morgan mentioned a member of the family discovered Clifford “odd” and was involved about how he handled her, whereas others “hoped the connection would come to an finish”.

“Hannah Hunt had mentioned the household discovered the defendant to be disrespectful, impolite and smug,” she added.

Clifford had additionally been in relationships with different ladies whereas he was courting Louise “which he hid” from her, the courtroom heard.

The prosecutor mentioned Louise instigated the top of the connection, however Clifford tried to “rekindle” along with her.

She mentioned when Clifford was rejected, he set about “planning an assault” on the household for favouring the break-up.

Louise had mentioned the connection was “sucking the life out of me”, the courtroom heard.

In a message to Clifford on 26 June, learn to the jury, Louise wrote: “I am sorry Kyle however I really feel I am unable to proceed with what we’ve, I really feel prefer it has been damaged and I am unable to ignore how I have been feeling.

“I simply really feel proper now I owe it to myself to take some area and stroll away for my very own sanity and well being.

“I by no means need there to be something nasty between us ever. Deal with your self all the time please.”

Miss Morgan mentioned Clifford appeared to simply accept “this place”, however within the days that adopted he grew to become much less accepting.

Jurors had been instructed he spent £350 on-line shopping for a crossbow, six bolts and a cocking machine.

He additionally bought an air pistol, which was not delivered, and duct tape, Miss Morgan mentioned.

Clifford additionally researched learn how to supply a knife earlier than buying a 10-inch metal “excessive degree butchering knife” for £89, Miss Morgan mentioned.

The defendant’s sister had messaged him on the day of the assaults asking him “what are you enjoying at?” when she realised he had taken the crossbow out with him.

He instructed her he was doing nothing “unlawful” and he was capturing it in his buddy’s again backyard, the jurors had been instructed.

Following the murders, he grew to become the topic of a manhunt for a variety of hours earlier than he was discovered injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery, in Enfield, after capturing himself within the chest with the crossbow.

The jury was instructed he’s now paralysed from the chest downwards.

The defendant, who has not been in courtroom to listen to the beginning of his trial, served within the army for about three years from 2019.

Mr Justice Bennathan has instructed jurors it could be “basically incorrect” to assume Clifford have to be responsible of “anything” as a result of he admitted homicide.

The trial continues.