Police chief opens up on horror Kyle Clifford case in new shocking details

Police closing in on fugitive killer Kyle Clifford feared they were being shot at when they heard the sound of a crossbow being fired in cemetery grounds. Hundreds of officers including armed units and dog units were involved in the 20-hour manhunt for the former soldier who had fled after butchering the family of racing commentator John Hunt in a rage after being dumped by the broadcaster’s daughter Louise. Intelligence led a unit into Enfield’s Lavender Hill Cemetery where Clifford was staked-out in heavy undergrowth.

A source revealed that the police officer approaching didn’t see him but suddenly heard the sound of a crossbow being fired. That noise was cowardly Clifford turning the weapon on himself “at the last possible moment” firing a bolt into his chest causing devastating injuries that have left him paralysed from the waist down. The police chief tasked with overseeing the manhunt for the fugitive killer branded the level of his violence “unprecedented” for a domestic abuser and said his main concern was keeping the public – and his officers safe.

Hertfordshire Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson said: “The scale of Kyle Clifford’s crimes is unprecedented in terms of male violence against women and girls and is totally shocking.”

After discovering the three bloodied bodies of Louise, Hannah and Carol Hunt at their home in Bushey, the senior officer said their Operation Infauna was one of the most complex policing responses ever seen in the “relatively small and safe community in Hertfordshire”.

He said: “In the minutes, hours and days that followed these murders, we had multiple challenges to overcome. We had to manage a complex crime scene, balancing the dignity of the victims with a criminal investigation and an urgent manhunt to apprehend the suspect.

Alerts were issued to the public and operational trigger plans were put in place in the event of a potential sighting. Resource demand was under regular review to ensure there were enough boots on the ground to respond should Clifford be sighted.

“Our priority was to apprehend Clifford but due to the alarming nature of the incident and intense media interest, we also worked hard to manage public concern during the manhunt.

“Our concern at all times was to keep the public safe and we also had concern for our own officers. We knew these officers were potentially going into harm’s way as they assisted with the operation. We briefed officers across the force, so they knew about the potential threat posed by Clifford.”

Behind the scenes, officers worked “hand in glove with the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police as they scoured areas Clifford had been known to previously frequent.

He was finally found 24 hours later hiding in undergrowth the cemetery close to his Enfield home in north London.

Ch Supt Simpson said: “If this was an attempt to end his own life, he left it to the last possible opportunity and meant that the officers that approached him were exposed to a huge amount of risk.

“Despite this, in the moments following his detention, they worked to save his life. This was not the end of our resource commitment as Clifford required 24/7 police guard throughout his extensive hospital stay. Although he is now paralysed from the chest down, we could not simply leave a triple murder suspect to recuperate unsupervised. This was the longest daily demand on policing in Hertfordshire in recent history.”