BBC commentator John Hunt’s wife and daughters killed in a crossbow attack: Everything to know

In a shocking turn of events, three women were killed by a man in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday evening July 9. Following the deaths at a home in northwest London, British police began a massive manhunt for a man thought to be carrying a crossbow and maybe additional weapons.

The triple murder left people shocked and devastated; friends and neighbours paid tribute to the victims as flowers were laid near Ashlyn Close in Bushey. This was especially unexpected for people who live in Bushey as it is deemed a peaceful neighbourhood. The triple murder case manhunt was one of a kind after 3 years of Sabina Nessa’s death - the teacher who was found dead minutes away from home.

Everything we know about the triple murder case in Ashlyn Close, Bushey

According to The Telegraph, the victims were the wife and daughters of BBC Five Live racing commentator John Hunt—61-year-old Carol, and Louise and Hannah.

Emergency Services were called to the Hunt family home on Tuesday evening after the three women were found with serious injuries. When the ambulance and help arrived, they were alive but despite the medical team’s best efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

It is understood that Hunt had been working for BBC racing on Tuesday and may have raised the alarm when he returned to the home in Hertfordshire at around 7pm. After the death, police said that the victims were murdered in a ‘targeted incident.’

A neighbour of the murdered women revealed that Louise recently split from her boyfriend a few days ago and crashed her car into a telegraph pole outside the family home. The neighbour, Glyn Nicholas, 77, has suggested Louise was in a relationship with the man who has been found as a suspect in the case.

Just a few days prior to the attack, it has been revealed that Louise reposted a tweet about abusive relationships that said:

I admire women who leave, idgaf if you left after the 1st time or the 12th time I admire s***!

Idgaf if ppl calling you dumb for 11 years but in the 12th year you decided you was done. It takes A LOT of strength to break a tie. It takes ALOT of self love to choose yo self.

It was her final post on X.

The suspect

A manhunt was launched for the suspect, Kyle Clifford, 26, on Wednesday after he was suspected to be the man who killed the three women in a crossbow attack. Herts Police announced that he was found on Wednesday afternoon in the Enfield area. They added:

He is receiving medical treatment having been found with injuries. No shots were fired by police.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Clifford served in the Armed Forces for a short period of time. It was also revealed that he has a brother - Bradley Clifford - who is serving a life sentence for a murder.

While crossbow crimes are fewer in number, they have been increasing in the last few years. In 2021, Jaswant Singh Chail entered the royal grounds with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill the Queen.

What are the laws on crossbows in the UK?

After the recent incident, a Home Office spokesman said the Home Secretary is urgently looking to make changes to the current crossbow laws. Calls for stricter laws to be introduced are being made in the wake of the attack. Despite the danger involved with crossbows, they have a complex legal status in the UK. According to Metro News, they fall somewhere between archery and firearm laws.

Under the Crossbow Act 1987, anyone above the age of 18 can purchase a crossbow in the UK and no licence is required for it. Possession is prohibited for those under 18 without adult supervision. It is illegal to carry a crossbow in public without a ‘reasonable excuse’ and offenders can be put behind bars for up to 4 years. In Scotland, it is illegal to be drunk in a public place while possessing a crossbow.

After the recent triple murder, the Home Secretary is looking into the findings of the case to see if ‘laws need to be tightened further.’

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Sources Used

The Telegraph: Police find suspected crossbow killer in Enfield

Metro News: What are the laws on crossbows in the UK?

Daily Mail: Haunting final message of 'crossbow killer's tragic ex-girlfriend': How John Hunt's daughter shared tweet praising 'women who leave' for their 'strength' days before she was executed following 'messy breakup'