Kyle Clifford, 26, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of a woman and two of her daughters in a crossbow attack at their home, a court has heard.
Carol Hunt, 61, Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, family of racing commentator John Hunt, were found fatally injured in a property in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9.
The 26-year-old is charged with three counts of murder, one charge of false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons – namely a crossbow and a 10-inch butcher’s knife.
He has now also been further charged with rape, Cambridge Crown Court heard.
Clifford entered his pleas to the charges at the court during a plea and trial preparation hearing today.
He appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh.
The three women were found fatally injured at the family home in Ashlyn Close just after 7pm in July.
Louise and Hannah Hunt had been shot with a crossbow and their mother Carol had been stabbed with a knife and suffered multiple injuries, a previous court hearing was told.
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Court artist drawing of Kyle Clifford appearing via videolink at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London in September
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The younger sister had been found tied up when officers attended the property.
Hunt and his third daughter Amy previously issued a statement following the incident, which said: “The devastation we are experiencing cannot be put into words.”
In a further statement read to Sky Sports Racing viewers by his colleague Matt Chapman, he paid tribute to his “magnificently inspirational” surviving daughter.
He said: “Notwithstanding the horrid evil that’s swept through our lives, wreaking devastation on an unimaginable scale, the counter to that has been the breathtaking messages of support, some of which are still to be read.
“Amy, my eldest daughter, has been magnificently inspirational with her control and support for me, which I am trying, trying so hard, to replicate.
“Every message has felt so important, the same as a reassuring hug. We know people are worried about us. We will get through this.”
