2024 killings in Bushey, England
On 9 July 2024, Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt were killed in their home in Bushey, in the south of England. The primary weapon was identified as a crossbow; paramedics found the three women injured at around 19:00 and all died at the scene shortly afterwards. A manhunt ensued, with police searching for Kyle Marcus Clifford, who was found injured the next day near his home in the London Borough of Enfield. A house several houses along the road, had caught footage of the murderer getting inside a car with a bag.
Murders and manhunt.
Kyle Clifford went to the home of his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, at around midday on 9 July 2024, in Bushey, near Watford. Their relationship had recently ended and he had requested to collect some belongings. Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt were then attacked. During the attack, Hannah texted her partner and asked him to call 999, before she called 999 herself. Clifford then fled the scene. Armed police were sent to the house just before 19:00, with ambulance staff in attendance. The responders found the three women seriously injured and attempted to treat them, but all three died at the scene.
The police appealed for the public's help locating Clifford, warning that he was considered armed and dangerous and to call 999 rather than approach him. Following a 22-hour manhunt mostly in the London Borough of Enfield, police found Clifford injured in a cemetery near his home in Enfield at around 18:00 on 10 July 2024. Police also recovered a crossbow. Clifford was initially treated for his injuries at the cemetery before being taken to the Royal London Hospital.
Victims.
The victims were Carol Hunt, aged 61, and two of her daughters: Hannah Hunt, aged 28, and Louise Hunt, aged 25. Hannah was a beautician, and Louise owned and ran a dog grooming business. The women were the family of Amy (daughter and sister), and BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky Sports racing commentator John Hunt (husband and father). The police had no previous contact with the family.
According to information given in the coroner's inquest, Carol died from stab wounds, while Hannah and Louise died from crossbow bolt injuries. Hannah was alive, found in the main doorway, when the police arrived at the address.
Perpetrator.
Kyle Marcus Clifford (born 5 April 1998) was 26 years old at the time of the killings. He lived in Enfield throughout his entire life, and is a former security guard and soldier, who briefly served in the Queen's Dragoon Guards. After being found on 10 July, he was taken to a nearby hospital and was treated for serious injuries; the police confirmed that no shots had been fired when they apprehended him. It was later confirmed that Clifford's injuries were self-inflicted, and that he had undergone surgery for a chest wound. He was kept under police guard at hospital but was unfit to be arrested due to his injuries.
Clifford's brother Bradley is a convicted murderer, having been sentenced at the Old Bailey in 2018 and still in prison at the time of the Hunts' murders. Police searched a property relating to Bradley as well as Clifford's home.
Clifford was arrested on the evening of 11 July, on suspicion of three counts of murder, but remained in hospital unable to be questioned because of his injuries. On 17 September 2024 he was charged with the murders of the women, appearing remotely at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He was also charged with the false imprisonment of Louise Hunt, and with two counts of possessing an offensive weapon.
On 19 December 2024 Clifford appeared remotely at Cambridge Crown Court where he pleaded not-guilty to the three counts of murder, as well as the charges of false imprisonment and of possessing an offensive weapon. He was additionally charged with one count of rape.
On 22 January 2025, he changed his pleas to guilty for all three charges of murder, the charges of false imprisonment and of possessing an offensive weapon. He pleaded not-guilty to the charge of raping Louise Hunt.
Response.
A vigil was held in Bushey for the victims. The triple killings were heavily reported on and considered incredibly shocking. In the days following there was support shown to John Hunt, husband and father of the women, in various forms. The Professional Jockey Association confirmed that jockeys would wear black armbands and observe moments of silence at upcoming races, while Mark Chapman spoke in support of Hunt in his UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final broadcast ahead of England defeating the Netherlands. After the match, other football personalities directed attention back to the Hunts.
In February 2024, the Home Office reviewed evidence to see if there was a need to legislate to restrict the ownership of crossbows as they had been used in several attacks. A new government took office in July 2024, with the Home Office announcing that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would look at the findings of the earlier review. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the killings as "awful" and pledged that the government would look at crossbow legislation in response.
References.
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