John Hunt became emotional as he opened up for the first time publicly about the murders of his wife and two daughters, which took place last summer.
The BBC horse racing commentator lost two of his three daughters as well as his wife last July when Kyle Clifford, his youngest daughter’s ex-boyfriend, murdered them at their home.
Speaking for the first time about the horrific tragedy, Hunt and his oldest daughter Amy talked candidly about their loss, where the bereaved father became choked up when he talked about daughters Hannah and Louise and wife Carol.
The horse racing pundit still lives in the family home in Hertfordshire, and explained how he speaks to each of the women throughout the day.
John Hunt read an emotional post his daughter had shared online before her death
BBC
“Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, ‘girls, sorry I can’t be with you, I’m with your mum at the moment,'” he shared.
The proud father also detailed how he believes his middle daughter Hannah had saved his life after she managed to send a text to her boyfriend as she died, raising the alarm of the attack.
Hunt believes Clifford intended to murder him too, once he had returned from London to the family home.
On July 9, 2024, Clifford, 26, arrived at the Hunt family’s house before stabbing Carol, 61, multiple times before waiting for Louise.
@bbcnews John Hunt speaks to Victoria Derbyshire with his daughter Amy about his wife and other two daughters who were killed by Kyle Clifford. #UK #England #Newsnight #BBCNewsnight #BBCNews ♬ original sound – BBC News
When the youngest daughter, 25, arrived at the house, he raped her before killing her with a crossbow.
Later, when Hannah also returned, he shot her with the weapon. In her dying moments, the 28-year-old managed to message her boyfriend and call 999, detailing what had happened and who was responsible.
“I get to live. Hannah gave me that, and I’ve got to treat it as a gift from her,” Hunt explained in the BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire, adding: “Police officers of 30 years’ experience had their breath taken away by how brave she was, how she was able to think so clearly in that moment, to know what she needed to do.”
The father and daughter explained reports at the time about Clifford being abusive to Louise had been false, with the family making clear there had been no signs he could have carried out such an act.
The grief-stricken father became emotional as he shared the transcript of a TikTok video Louise had shared ahead of her death, titled Don’t You Feel Embarrassed for Sticking Around that Long?
Pausing to compose himself as he became emotional, Hunt read: “Embarrassed? My heart is the best part about me.
“And who I am as a person. I will never be embarrassed for loving someone with everything in me because that is how I would want someone to love me. Yes, it didn’t work out but I don’t regret loving him and how hard I loved.
“I’m proud of myself for realising that love is always worth giving when when it may not be received. I truly think they needed that love a lot more than I did at that time and maybe this will be he reason they never treat a person like that.
Hannah, Louise and Carol were murdered at their home by Kyle Clifford
“So no, I don’t feel embarrassed about loving someone deeply and wholeheartedly.”
Amy clarified that while there were aspects of Clifford the family didn’t warm to, there had been no indication of him potentially harming anyone.
“Did we have any indication that this man was capable of stabbing my mother, of tying Louise up, of raping Louise, of shooting Louise and shooting Hannah? Absolutely not,” she noted.
The heartbroken sister continued: “I know it sounds crass, but we often say we wish we’d had some hint that he was capable of this.”
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Kyle Clifford was sentenced to three whole life orders
PA
Clifford, who refused to attend his sentencing, was given three whole life orders.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Hunt said of Clifford in court that “the screams of Hell” await him, adding: “They’re going to roll out the red carpet for you.”