<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A former British soldier who used a crossbow and a knife to murder his ex-girlfriend, her sister and their mother at their family home north of London was sentenced on Tuesday to a whole-life order, meaning that he would never be released from prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kyle Clifford, 26, had pleaded guilty in January to murdering Louise Hunt, 25, and her 28-year-old sister Hannah Hunt with a crossbow and their mother, Carol Hunt, 61, with a knife on July 9, 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was convicted of three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/donald-trump-rules-out-tariff-exemption-australian-steel-and-aluminium/2b339ef2-d341-475d-ad11-f62fb6f08dec" target="_blank"><strong><span>Major blow to Australia after Trump rules out tariff exemption</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was also found guilty of raping Louise during the "carefully planned" attack on the family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sentencing Clifford, Justice Joel Bennathan said he was “a jealous man soaked in self-pity — a man who holds women in utter contempt."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clifford refused to turn up for the sentencing.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/uk-court-orders-crossbow-killer-who-murdered-three-women-never-to-be-released-from-prison/3009939a-2964-446e-9b0b-a4d1279f98da" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prosecutors said he planned the murders for days, ordering the crossbow, knife, an air pistol and other items after becoming enraged when an increasingly concerned Louise ended their 18-month relationship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During the case, the jury was shown evidence that Clifford gained access to the family home in the quiet residential neighbourhood of Bushey, north-east of the capital, by deceiving the mother on the pretext he was returning Louise’s belongings, before brutally stabbing her to death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ukraine-russia-war-ukraine-accepts-us-proposal-for-30-day-ceasefire/bd2558cc-4714-487d-add2-93313db04f94" target="_blank"><strong><span>Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire proposed by US</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clifford “lay in wait” for an hour for Louise to enter the house, before restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her with a crossbow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He then fatally shot her sister, Hannah, when she returned to the property after work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prosecutors said that less than 24 hours before he carried out the attacks, Clifford had searched for the podcast of the self-styled misogynist influencer Andrew Tate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They said the “violent misogyny" promoted by Tate “fuelled” Clifford’s attacks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nervous-and-rushed-massive-fukushima-plant-cleanup-exposes-workers-to-high-radiation-and-stress/cf4b39a1-d5e5-4153-a31d-b00e3ab93391" target="_blank"><strong><span>Workers cleaning up Fukushima nuclear plant reveal toll</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Following the murders, police launched a manhunt for the suspect before he was found injured the following day in a cemetery in Enfield, north London.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clifford had shot himself in the chest with the crossbow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He remains in a wheelchair, having been paralysed from the chest downwards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The three women were the wife and two of the daughters of BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt, who was in court throughout the trial and the verdict, along with his one remaining daughter, 31-year-old Amy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Reading an emotional statement in court on Tuesday, John called Clifford a psychopath who disguised himself as an ordinary human being.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said Louise had left Clifford after saying “enough is enough.”</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“I hope women round the world will take Louise’s bravery as a shining beacon for their lives,” he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“If you feel enough is enough, then it is.”</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He went on to talk about the life sentence given to his family's killer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-south-wales-news-woman-and-dog-attacked-unleashed-dogs-maitland/3af0fb85-a807-4cb2-8608-ed69af25f4e1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Olivia's pup Enzo was 'brutally' mauled by two off-leash dogs. She was also injured</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And now comes the time when your fate on this earth will be confirmed. Every single person in the world, I'm thinking of mothers and fathers in particular, especially those daughters, now expects the formality of a life sentence," he said, reported the </span><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwydwr859dgo" rel="" target="" title="BBC"><span>BBC</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Never again to make choices of your own. To breathe fresh air only occasionally. To eat when someone else tells you to eat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But just remember one thing. Whatever sentence you are about to receive, whatever misery lies ahead for you for the next 60 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Remember that after your days on earth are done, on your dying day, there will be no release for you.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The screams of Hell, Kyle, I can hear them faintly now.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The red carpet will come out for you.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At that point, when the person you could have been meets the person you are, you will realise your miserable fate will last for eternity."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>-reported with AP.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div>