Heartbreaking last text message BBC’s John Hunt sent daughter before brutal murder

BBC racing commentator John Hunt sent a text message to one of his daughters asking: “Everything OK sweetness?” as she lay bound and gagged before being murdered, a jury heard. Killer Kyle Clifford used the mobile phone of his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt to send the message asking the veteran broadcaster when he would be home from work after tricking his way into her home to allegedly rape then kill Louise, 25, her sister Hannah, 28, with a crossbow after stabbing their mother Carol, 61, with a 10-inch butchery knife. The former soldier was repeatedly caught on camera on the day of his rampage which Cambridge Crown Court has been told included the rape of his ex-girlfriend in a “violent, sexual act of spite”.

The serial love cheat launched his deadly revenge attack after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. Clifford admits the triple murder but denies rape, claiming DNA evidence found at postmortem was historic from there last sexual encounter 16 days prior. Today chilling footage was shown to the jury of Clifford on July 9 last year of Clifford parking his car and strolling into Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and knocking on the front door.

Dressed all in black, wearing a rucksack and holding a white plastic bag, CCTV recorded audio as the door is answered by Mrs Hunt prompting Clifford to announce he is “just dropping off some of Louise’s stuff”.

Mrs Hunt asks Clifford how he is and he replies: “I’m good, thank you. What’s wrong? You look like…”

Mrs Hunt responds: “I’ve seen a ghost.”

Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, said moments later Clifford took his knife from his rucksack and launched his savage attack prompting a loud female scream to be heard.

Further CCTV footage showed the killer leaving to collect the crossbow from his car, returning with it hidden under a sheet and letting himself back into the house with a key.

Ashen-faced Mr Hunt watched proceedings from the public gallery.

Jurors were also shown footage of Clifford at a garden centre in Enfield earlier in the day and he was previously caught on CCTV buying rope and petrol cans as he plotted the massacre.

Having fatally stabbed Mrs Hunt in the back, torso, knee and hands, Clifford, 26, then lay in wait for Louise who was working in garden pod, from where she ran her dog-grooming business.

Clifford then allegedly subjected Louise to a harrowing nightmare lasting two-and-a-half hours during which he bound her hands and feet with duct tape and raped her, it is alleged.

Whilst Louise was restrained Clifford trawled her phone before sending a text to her father asking: “What time are you home?”

Mr Hunt replied: “Later I’m afraid. Everything ok sweetness?”

The prosecution allege that forensic evidence demonstrates beyond all reasonable doubt that while bound “penetrative sexual activity took place.”

Forensic scientist Martin Whittaker told the jury that in his opinion the “presence and quantity” of DNA “cannot reasonably be explained by Kyle Clifford only having had” sex with Louise Hunt on June 23.

Mrs Morgan told jurors: “The only count for you to determine is that of rape. The prosecution’s case is that the defendant planned a terrible attack on Louise Hunt and her family, enraged by her rejection of him.

“That attack included an act of sexual violence, committed out of spite, when she was restrained and unable to escape him. The forensic evidence that was discovered is not a historic artefact.”

Phil Bradley KC, defending, said: “Mr Clifford’s case is that he and Louise had sexual intercourse on June 23, on the day they returned from his friend’s wedding.”

The trial continues.