'Rape revenge' of crossbow killer

A JILTED lover raped his ex-girlfriend before murdering her in a “violent, sexual act of spite”, a jury was told.

- By Paul Jeeves

Kyle Clifford, 26, attacked Louise Hunt, 25, after she ended their 18-month relationship, storming into her family home wielding a crossbow and a knife.

Clifford has admitted murdering Louise and her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61, in a bloodbath attack at their home in Bushey, Herts.

But he denies raping Louise, the daughter of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, while holding her hostage before the killing.

Opening the case at Cambridge Crown Court, Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, told jurors it was “not in dispute” that Clifford murdered his former partner, her sister and their mother.

And she told jurors it was also accepted that Clifford falsely imprisoned his ex-girlfriend and was unlawfully in possession of a knife and crossbow.

The jury was told the killer had tricked his way into the home after claiming to Carol that he wanted to give Louise her belongings back following their break-up.

Ms Morgan said: “The only count for you to determine is that of rape. During the course of this prolonged incident of violence, the prosecution alleges that the defendant raped Louise Hunt.

Deadly

“It was a violent, sexual act of spite, before he then killed her. And you will have to determine that allegation against him.

“He denies that he raped Louise Hunt during the course of these events on July 9 of last year.”

The KC said the deadly attack happened after Louise dumped the former soldier last June.

She added: “The attack was carefully planned and executed, involving the deceit of Louise’s mother Carol Hunt, in order to gain access to the family home, followed by a brutal knife attack upon Carol Hunt.