Bio

Kyle Marcus Clifford was born on 5 April 1998. In adulthood, he worked as a security guard and previously served for a short period as a soldier with the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, though his time in the Army was brief.

By 2024, Clifford was in a relationship with Louise Hunt. The relationship later ended, and evidence presented to the court established that Louise Hunt had broken up with him on 26 June 2024. In court sentencing remarks, the judge described the separation as handled with restraint by Louise, and the prosecution case framed Clifford’s later conduct as driven by grievance and control.

In the days after the breakup, the investigation and sentencing record show Clifford took steps consistent with preparation: he obtained a Hori-Zone Kornet MXT-405 compound crossbow and bolts and also acquired a knife, alongside other materials later cited by prosecutors as part of his planning.

After the killings and during the manhunt, Clifford inflicted a serious injury on himself, resulting in emergency treatment and surgery. The sentencing remarks record that the injury left him paralysed from the waist down.

Murder Story

On 9 July 2024, Clifford drove to the Hunt family home at Ashlyn Close, Bushey, Hertfordshire. Court findings place him arriving and positioning himself in the area during the afternoon before approaching the house.

At 14:32, he rang the doorbell. Carol Hunt (61) answered. The sentencing record states he represented that he was returning Louise Hunt’s belongings, and once inside, he stabbed Carol Hunt, causing fatal injuries.

Louise Hunt (25) was working that day at her dog-grooming business in an outbuilding. According to the court’s sentencing summary, Clifford waited and later confronted her inside the house, where he restrained and gagged her. The court accepted that Louise Hunt was falsely imprisoned and later raped by Clifford.

Later that evening, Louise Hunt was killed with the crossbow.

Hannah Hunt (28) arrived at the home during the evening. Evidence accepted by the court established that she was also attacked and killed by crossbow injuries. Armed police and ambulance services responded, and official accounts note Hannah was found alive when first responders arrived but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Police launched a manhunt, warning the public that Clifford was dangerous. He was located the next day, 10 July 2024, in a cemetery area near his home in Enfield, London, with a severe self-inflicted injury. He was treated and taken to hospital under police guard.He later pleaded guilty to the murders and the other non-rape offences, but contested the rape charge; the rape case proceeded and he was found guilty.

On 11 March 2025, at Cambridge Crown Court, Clifford received life imprisonment with a whole-life order for the murders, alongside concurrent sentences for the other offences (including 20 years for rape and 8 years for false imprisonment, concurrent).