'Murders show online misogyny can cause real harm'

Louise Hunt - pictured with her sister Hannah, centre, and mum Carol - had been urged by her family to end her relationship with Clifford

The triple murder committed by crossbow killer Kyle Clifford showed harmful online content could "transform" into physical violence, a former culture secretary has claimed.

Clifford, 26, murdered Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024 and he was found guilty of raping Louise Hunt during the attack.

Prosecutors at Cambridge Crown Court said Clifford's actions were fuelled by the "violent misogyny promoted" by controversial social media personality Andrew Tate.

Baroness Nicky Morgan said the case proved "so-called legal content can absolutely be deeply, deeply harmful to others". The BBC has approached Tate for comment.

Four alleged victims of Tate have also called for social media platforms to ban the influencer, saying: "Clifford's case should be a warning".

Clifford admitted murdering Carol, 61, with a butcher's knife and using a crossbow to fatally shoot Louise, 25, and 28-year-old Hannah.

The attacks came two weeks after Louise ended an 18-month relationship with Clifford, from Enfield, north London.

The trial heard that in the days leading up to the murders, Clifford bought the crossbow online, and a replica Glock air pistol from a shop in Essex.

Clifford is due to be sentenced for the murders and rape on Tuesday

Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Baroness Morgan said: "The harmful content that people see online can absolutely transform and transfer to physical, offline harm."

Clifford had searched for self-described misogynist Tate's podcast the day before he carried out his four-hour attack, it was said during legal arguments ahead of his trial.

This could only be reported after Clifford was found guilty of raping Louise, as Mr Justice Bennathan had excluded the evidence from the trial over concerns it would be prejudicial.

Explaining his ruling, the judge said Tate was "almost a poster boy for misogynists" and the 38-year-old's prominence in recent headlines created a "great possible prejudice".

Clifford's defence had also argued the Tate material he accessed was too vague a link.

Four British women, who are taking High Court action against Tate over allegations of rape and coercive control, separately called on social media companies to immediately ban Tate from their platforms.

Speaking via their legal representatives, the women said: "Hearing that Kyle Clifford watched videos of Andrew Tate in the lead up to his murders of his ex-girlfriend, her mother and sister, is deeply upsetting to us, but sadly not surprising.

"This should be a wake up call for all the social media companies who are continuing to platform Tate and his dangerous messages.

"Our thoughts are with the Hunt family."

Andrew Tate (right) was banned from Twitter for saying women should "bear responsibility" for being sexually assaulted, but later reinstated when the platform changed to X.

Baroness Morgan said challenges remained over how broadcast watchdog Ofcom monitored platforms such as podcasts.

She said: "In this case, interestingly, yes, there was a video, but I think a lot of the Tate content is now delivered via podcasts.

"I think that's a whole new area for the regulator to have to look at."

Prosecutors said Clifford arrived at the Hunt family home at 14:32 BST on 9 July, under the guise of dropping off Louise Hunt's belongings, before stabbing Carol.

He laid in wait for Louise to come inside the property before taping her ankles and wrists, raping and ultimately murdering her.

Hannah was murdered after arriving home from work at about 18:50.

Clifford will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday.