Kyle Clifford: The crossbow killer sentenced to a whole life order
On 26th June 2024, Louise Hunt ended her 18-month relationship with Kyle Clifford by text. The message she received made her believe the relationship had ended amicably, and that she could begin to move on with her life.
She would never get that chance. Less than a fortnight later, Louise was brutally raped and murdered in her home along with her elder sister, Hannah and mother, Carol. All three were killed by Clifford – a man they had previously welcomed into their close-knit family.
The murder of three women from the same family sent shockwaves through their local Hertfordshire community and the country. Join us at Crime+Investigation as we take a closer look at the circumstances of this disturbing case.
Who was Kyle Clifford?
Kyle Clifford was born in Enfield, north London, in April 1998. His older brother, Bradley Clifford, was jailed in 2018 for life after murdering 19-year-old Jahshua Francis and 18-year-old Soban Khan. He deliberately struck them with his car while they were riding a moped after they hit his car with a bottle.
Kyle was a soldier in the British Army, joining the Queen’s Dragoon Guards in 2019. However, he was unable to adjust to the strict discipline and quit after three years.
After going through various jobs, he eventually settled for security guard work in North London. In 2023, he was working for a fire and security installation company.
Kyle Clifford and Louise Hunt
By June 2024, Louise knew she needed to end the relationship. She’d met Clifford through a dating app in early 2023. But what had started as a happy relationship had deteriorated by the following summer. Privately, Louise wrote about Clifford’s cruel comments and rude behaviour. Unknown to her at the time, he had also been cheating on her with at least two other women.
'Thank you for the incredible time we've had this year, I hope you know how much I love you and still will for a long time. I never want there to be anything nasty between us ever. Take care of yourself always, please,’ she sent in a message to Kyle.
Clifford responded, thanking Louise for the clarity. But behind the amicable message, he held a dark secret. Feeling that Louise’s family had turned her against him, he plotted his murderous revenge.
Over the following days he purchased a crossbow, bolts and butcher knife online. He was also caught on CCTV purchasing large quantities of petrol, duct tape and rope. On 9th June, Clifford travelled to the Hunt family home on Ashlyn Close in Bushey.
The murder of Louise, Carol, and Hannah Hunt
Kyle Clifford went to the Hunt family home and told Louise’s mother, Carol, that he had come over to return some of Louise’s belongings. She let him into the house, and it was then that he brutally stabbed her.
He then waited for Louise to return to the house. Louise worked as a dog groomer in an outbuilding in the family's back garden, and was unaware that Clifford was at the property.
At 4:11 pm, she entered the home and was attacked by Clifford. He gagged her and restrained her ankles and wrists. At 6:50pm, he shot her in the back with his crossbow. Louise was subjected to three hours of abuse – including sexual – at the hands of Clifford between the time she came home and her death.
Louise’s older sister, Hannah, approached the home just before Clifford killed Louise. Hannah managed to text her partner, Alex Klein, to say Clifford had tied her up and asked him to call the police.
A few minutes after the text was sent, Hannah was also shot with the crossbow. She managed to dial 999 and was still alive when paramedics arrived. However, she too would be pronounced dead at the scene not long after.
The manhunt for Kyle Clifford
A manhunt immediately began to search for Clifford. He was considered highly dangerous and was still armed with his crossbow, so authorities told the general public not to approach him directly.
Clifford was found the following day – 10th July 2024 – in Lavender Hill Cemetery. He was injured from a self-inflicted crossbow wound to the chest, in an apparent suicide attempt, as he saw armed police approaching. The injury left him paralysed from the waist down.
The charges and verdict
Kyle Clifford was charged with the murders of Louise, Hannah, and Carol Hunt on 17th September 2024. He also faced two counts of possessing an offensive weapon, one count of rape, and a charge of false imprisonment of Louise Hunt.
Clifford pleaded not guilty to all. He later changed his pleas to guilty of all charges except for the rape of Louise. Following a trial, he was found guilty of rape.
On 11th March 2025, he was sentenced to a whole life order, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During Clifford’s sentencing, John Hunt paid tribute to his wife and two daughters. In a deeply moving victim impact statement, he spoke of Louise’s love of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and explained how she’d often quote lines from the novel to match life’s challenges.
'All their lives Carol, Hannah and Louise spent their time bringing joy and colour and happiness to other people’s lives. You killed three beautiful Mockingbirds, Kyle.'
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