BBC racing commentator John Hunt has opened up about his grief following the murder of his wife and two daughters.
Less than two years ago, Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt were killed by Kyle Clifford, who used a crossbow during the unthinkable rampage that led to him being given three life sentences with three whole life orders.
He stabbed John’s wife before raping his ex-girlfriend, Louise, and murdering her sister, Hannah, with the crossbow.
It was one of the most shocking and despicable crimes in British history and the much-loved commentator, who will be working at Cheltenham Festival next week, has spoken about how it has impacted him.
He told the Telegraph: ‘A couple of times, I’ve pushed it too hard. And I’ve unravelled because of it.
‘It (grief) writes its own rules, it’s the strangest thing. You can wake up at half past seven one morning and think, “I feel quite bright today”. And then, for no reason at all, come half past eight, you’re on your knees again.
John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was killed alongside two of their two daughters
‘Ultimately, you have no control over how you’re feeling from one minute to the next. There’s a strength in the surrender to that. The next time it hits, you know that the intensity won’t be quite the same in an hour’s time.
‘You develop a confidence that you can cope, even though nothing changes. I’m still exploring it, as you can tell. I’m still working it out.’
The unimaginable spree of violence took place at the family’s £800,000 home in Bushey on July 9, 2024.
Clifford, 27, refused to attend court for his sentencing — a final act of cowardice after months of inflicting horror on the Hunt family.
He had also refused to appear at his trial, despite forcing witnesses and relatives to listen to devastating details of his crimes after denying the rape of Louise, even though he admitted the murders.
Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy, have been engaging in yoga, therapy and various forms of socialising as they bid for some kind of normality.
Together they have launched The Hunt Family Fund, created in honour of Carol, Hannah and Louise to support causes that help and inspire young women.
Last year, John described his daily grief, saying: ‘From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them.
Kyle Clifford (pictured) raped and murdered his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, 25, and killed her mother, Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28
‘Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, “Girls, sorry I can’t be with you, I’m with your mum at the moment”. As I close my eyes at night, I chat to them as well. So yeah, very close (to me) all the time.’
Amy, determined to restore dignity to the memories of the three women, said: ‘My mum, Hannah and Louise became a statistic. They became victims of Kyle Clifford.
‘I want to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully rounded people.’
Hate-filled misogynist Clifford fuelled his fury by watching obnoxious Andrew Tate videos the day before he murdered the three women.
On July 9 – having bought a murder kit including the crossbow, knife, duct tape, rope and other paraphernalia – Clifford turned up at the £800,000 detached family home to enact what the prosecution called his ‘violent, sexual act of spite’.
He talked his way in, telling kindly Carol he had a farewell card for the family and was also dropping off some of Louise’s belongings.
Her obvious fear at his appearance was caught on audio from two security cameras at the house as she admitted she felt like she’d seen a ‘ghost’.
It would also record screams from the women as they were murdered, one by one, and the ‘whooshing’ sound of the crossbow as bolts were unleashed.
After a jury took just 45 minutes to convict Clifford unanimously of rape, Mr Justice Bennathan said: ‘It’s unspeakable what friends and family have witnessed in this court.’
Brave Hannah managed to call 999 as she lay dying. All three women were declared dead at the scene.
Clifford was found hiding in Lavender Hill Cemetery, near his home in Enfield, north London, the following day.
He shot himself with the crossbow as officers approached and was left paralysed from the chest down.
The Hunt family say they will never stop fighting for the memories of the three women.
