BBC presenter’s family brutally murdered in crossbow attack
A UK sports presenter came home to find his wife and two of his daughters fatally injured in what police are calling a “targeted attack”.
Carol Hunt and her daughters Hannah and Louise were found at their home north of London on Tuesday night, local time, but succumbed to their injuries.
They are the family of John Hunt, a racing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live. The BBC has said the incident is “utterly devastating”.
It’s believed the three were killed with a crossbow. Footage has emerged of a man carrying a large object close to the murder scene.
Following a manhunt for hours across north London, police have said they arrested 26-year-old Kyle Clifford, who is believed to be the ex-boyfriend of Louise Hunt.
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Triple murder suspect Kyle Clifford was stretchered away by cops
Breakup ‘turned nasty’
The family’s neighbour Glyn Nicholas, 77, told the Daily Mail that Louise had been upset about breaking up with her boyfriend and ended up crashing her car last week due to the stress.
“Louise was a very nice girl. She ran a dog grooming business from the house,” he said.
“I heard that she split from a boyfriend last week and was very upset about it.
“So much so that she was driving home at some point last week and drove into a wooden telegraph pole not far from the house.
“Another dog groomer - who is a friend of Louise’s - told me that her car door had caved in because of the crash.
“I don’t know if it was her boyfriend, but put it this way, some of my dog walkers said that she’d had a traumatic boyfriend bust up the week before last.”
Mum Carol Hunt had reportedly told friends at her local gym that her youngest daughter Louise had been involved in a “messy breakup” that had “turned nasty”.
“She said her daughter’s split with her boyfriend was messy,” a friend told the Daily Mail.
“Carol did not go into too much detail, but you could see she was concerned.”
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Police officers at a house in Ashlyn Close on July 10, 2024 in Bushey, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Mrs Hunt was 61 years old with Hannah aged 28 and Louise 25. The family also have a third daughter.
Police were called to Ashlyn Close, in Bushey, Hertfordshire, at 7pm on Tuesday (1am Wednesday AEST).
Bushey is on the suburban fringe of north west London just south of the large town of Watford.
The BBC has extensive facilities close to Bushey including the studios and set for major soap EastEnders.
Hunt had been working at the Lingfield Park Racecourse in Surrey, south west of London, and then returned home to discover the horror scene, reported The Sun.
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BBC presenter John Hunt wife and his wife Carol.
Manhunt
Hertfordshire Police said Mr Clifford, who is from Enfield in north London, was likely still armed as he was tracked down overnight and into Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon police raided an address in Enfield which is about 27km east of Bushey. Police also visited another address and a cemetery in Enfield.
“They kept going in and out of the property carrying guns, the whole road was taped off,” a neighbour said.
At 6.20pm (3.20am Thursday, AEST), Police said they had arrested a man at a cemetery in Enfield in connection with the triple killing.
“Following an extensive search, Kyle Clifford, aged 26, was found in the Enfield area by officers this afternoon,” said Hertfordshire Police.
“He is receiving medical treatment having been found with injuries. No shots were fired by police.”
Police said no one else was being sought in connection with the investigation.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said it was “an incredibly difficult incident for the victims’ family,” and asked for privacy so they could “come to terms with what has happened”.
The BBC has said that Mr Clifford was in the British Army for a short period in 2022.
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Victim Luise Hunt.
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Hannah Hunt also died.
Behind bars for life
Clifford’s older brother is already behind bars for life after killing a teenager, according toThe Sun.
It has now emerged that Clifford’s older brother, Bradley, was convicted of murder after a trial at the Old Bailey six years ago.
Bradley Clifford was handed a 23-year prison term after he mowed down and killed a moped rider for smashing a bottle on his “prized” Ford Mustang car.
Bradley, now 30, became enraged and gave chase to a scooter being ridden by Soban Khan, 18, and his friend Jahshua Francis, 19.
Mr Francis and his passenger were flung into the air after Bradley drove his mustang into the moped during a relentless pursuit through Enfield in the early hours of August 5 2017.
Lying motionless and catastrophically injured, Mr Khan was then beaten up by Bradley who had got out of his car when it became entangled with the moped.
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Bradley Clifford, 30, was jailed for 23 years in 2018 for killing a teenager. Picture: Met Police
Bradley told the teenager he “deserved” it and punched him hard nine times, the Old Bailey heard.
He was found guilty of murdering Mr Khan and of attempted GBH with intent on Mr Francis.
Bradley was jailed for life, and the judge told him he would have to serve at least 23 years before he would be eligible to apply for parole.
Pals say after the attack current manhunt suspect Kyle believed he was “untouchable”.
A friend said: “After Bradley was jailed Kyle developed this weird power complex.
“He thought having a brother who was behind bars was something to show-off about.
“Kyle used to go up to people and say ‘don’t f*** with my family’. He thought he was untouchable.
“He had no problem threatening people. And people were definitely afraid of him.”
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Police are searching for Kyle Clifford. Picture: Hertfordshire Police
Footage emerges
Social media footage reportedly shows a man with a possible crossbow under a sheet walking near Ashlyn Close at the time.
Passers-by appear to be oblivious to what might be under the sheet.
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CCTV images of man walking with an object in Bushey, UK. Picture: TikTok.
BBC: ‘Utterly devastating’
Mr Hunt has worked at the public broadcaster for 30 years as a sports reporter.
His main focus is horse racing but he also done commentary for football games and the equestrian events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Originally a police officer, he moved to BBC radio station 5 Live in 2004.
Heidi Dawson, the controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, said the news was “utterly devastating”.
“Our thoughts are with John and his family at this incredibly difficult time and we will provide him with all the support we can,” she said in an email to staff.
Matt Chapman, a racing commentator with commercial network ITV said there were “no words” to describe what had happen to Mr Hunt’s family.
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“Impossible to comprehend the pain. Just know we are all here for you John. We love you pal – racing loves you”.
Local councillor Laurence Bass said he was watching the Euro football championships when police swooped on the street.
“We’re very shocked; we’re not used to this in this area – it’s a typical leafy, British suburb“.
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