Image source, Hertfordshire Police

We're now concluding our live coverage of the sentencing of crossbow killer Kyle Clifford, who will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The 26-year-old murdered Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024, also raping Louise after restraining her.

BBC racing commentator John Hunt, husband of Carol and father of Louise and Hannah, said "the screams of Hell" awaited Clifford, adding: "They're going to roll out the red carpet for you."

He described the triple murderer as "callous, cowardly and vindictive" as both relatives and police officers wept in court.

You can read his statement in full here.

Judge Mr Justice Bennathan said Mr Hunt's statement was "difficult to listen to" as he handed down the whole-life order at Cambridge Crown Court.

He praised the victims' bravery and said Clifford was a man "soaked in self-pity" and who held women "in utter contempt".

For more on this story, you can read how an arrogant ex-soldier became a murderer, as well as our news report on today's sentencing.

Thank you for staying with us today, and a reminder that if you do need help and support with any of the issues raised by this story, you can find more information via the BBC Action Line.

Cambridge Crown Court heard how Clifford had a history of violence.

In 2021, he was involved in an "alcohol-fuelled" incident while in the Army which involved "soldiers drinking and then an altercation".

Prosecutors said Clifford was also involved in a further altercation with civilians and had to be "forcibly ejected from a pub".

His ex-partner Louise Hunt, who he went on to murder with a crossbow, had previously spoken of Clifford’s racist and transphobic views - and that he had a nasty temper and would use "belittling" language.

In 2017, Clifford's brother, Bradley Clifford, was jailed for life for murdering a teenage moped rider.

He is currently serving a minimum term of 23 years.

After he left the army, Kyle Clifford's immaturity was noted by supervisors in other jobs, with one saying he referred to his killer brother as a "geezer".

Image source, PA Media

Before Clifford was sentenced, Alex Klein - the partner of Hannah Hunt – read a victim impact statement to the court in which he addressed her killer.

Shortly before she died, she had texted Mr Klein, urging him to call police.

"Kyle, the world knows how pathetic you are, and that my Hannah stopped you in your tracks,” he said.

"You are nothing to me, and I have nothing but disgust for you.

"You are a weak and insecure little boy who compulsively lied... always looking for the easy way out rather than facing the truth.

"You are a coward.”

Mr Klein went on to describe Hannah as “an angel”.

"She would never lay a finger on anyone,” he added.

"Hannah completed my life. We worked so hard to build a future together and achieve our goals and all I wanted was to share that with her.”

Kyle Clifford's murder of his ex-girlfriend, her mother and sister is a "stark reminder" that the risks of domestic violence do not end with a break-up, a leading women's charity has said.

Cambridge Crown Court heard earlier how the 26-year-old killer became "enraged" when Louise Hunt ended their 18-month relationship, leading him to "carefully" plan the murders in July last year.

Reacting to his sentencing, domestic abuse charity Refuge, external said Clifford's crimes were "horrific and senseless".

Its interim chief executive Abigail Ampofo said: "No sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this devastating act of domestic homicide.

"The fact that this was a targeted attack by someone known to the victims - Louise's ex-partner - highlights the very real danger posed by those who use violence to exert control over their intimate partners.

"This is a stark reminder that the risks of domestic violence do not end with a break-up or separation."

Image source, Met Police

Kyle Clifford spoke twice with his brother Bradley in the days before his attack at the Hunt family home.

Bradley Clifford is serving a life sentence for murder after mowing down two people on a scooter in Enfield, north London, in August 2017.

Jahshua Francis, 19, died as a result of his injuries after being thrown up in the air during the crash.

Kyle Clifford had two conversations with Bradley prior to his attack and mentioned he had ordered a crossbow.

The conversations, on 1 July and 8 July last year, ahead of the attack on 9 July, were both recorded due to Bradley Clifford being in prison.

Alison Morgan KC said earlier that "for that very reason", Clifford may not have disclosed his full plan, for fear of prison officers overhearing it.

The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, said Clifford "never told his brother he was planning to hurt someone".

In order to maintain her resolve after ending their 18-month relationship, Louise Hunt wrote a list of things she did not like about Clifford.

The note on her phone, entitled "when you're sad, look!", listed reasons why she had done the right thing in breaking up with the 26-year-old.

They included:

• Clifford's brother, Bradley, being in prison for murder. Louise was concerned Clifford visited him every other week and had never acknowledged the crime was "horrendous"
• Comments that were "racist" and about not liking transgender people
• Road rage
• Saying he had a "higher IQ" than her family and using "belittling language"
• Talking about his father and brother being violent and finding that "funny"

Kyle Clifford knew the Hunt family's routine well, thanks to his 18-month relationship with Louise Hunt, the judge said earlier.

The crossbow killer tricked Carol Hunt into letting him into their home on 9 July, by pretending he was dropping off a thank-you card and items belonging to Louise.

John Hunt said he had spent time after the murders, thinking about how Clifford was able to deceive the family.

In his statement, he said: "When I challenge myself about how you were able to deceive us all, I simply say that you are a psychopath who, for the duration of your time together with Louise, was able to disguise yourself as an ordinary human being.

"You reserved your best, make-believe version of yourself for the times you were in our house.

"You managed to maintain that veneer of decency throughout the first year of your time with Louise, but you couldn’t maintain it in the early part of 2024."

Mr Hunt is referring there to the first of two relationships with other women Clifford secretly got into while with Louise.

Many of the moments leading up to and after the murders committed by Kyle Clifford were captured on CCTV.

He was seen at a garden centre on the morning of the attacks on 9 July 2024, before driving from his home in Enfield to Bushey.

Clifford was then captured on video going to and from the Hunt family home, before eventually leaving with a crossbow under his arm, having murdered Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt.

We heard more earlier about Kyle Clifford's interest in Andrew Tate, the self-described misogynist and controversial social media personality.

The court heard Clifford was once seen watching a Tate video of animals being drugged.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said, when asked why, Clifford replied that it was "funny".

The court also heard Clifford searched online for Tate's podcast on 8 July - the night before the attacks in Bushey.

Image source, Reuters

Morgan added: "Andrew Tate can properly be described as a poster boy for misogyny; a poster boy for those who see women as possessions to be controlled.

"It is not a coincidence that it was Andrew Tate the defendant turned to the night before he would go on to commit these acts of violence against women."

Jurors were not told of Clifford's interest in Tate - the judge decided they might be prejudiced if the information was outlined to them, such is the level of controversy surrounding him.

But, lawyers told the judge, Tate had described women as "intrinsically lazy" and said there was "no such thing as an independent female".

The prosecution suggested Clifford had been motivated by the same sort of "violent misogyny promoted by Tate".

The BBC has previously tried to contact Mr Tate for comment.

We're aware the content in this live blog makes for a distressing read.

A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues dealt with is available via the BBC Action Line.

Kyle Clifford refused to answer a detective's questions when he was interviewed in September last year.

Footage shows Clifford, in a wheelchair, being asked about his motive.

He is accused by the questioning officer of being "self-centred", to which he repeatedly responds "no comment".

A large-scale manhunt went on for almost 24 hours after Clifford left the Hunt family home in Bushey having carried out the attacks.

Hertfordshire Police took the unusual step of telling the public he was believed to have a crossbow, and made a direct appeal to him.

Specialist search teams and armed police officers were brought in to track him down.

Almost a day later, he was found in a cemetery near his family's home in Enfield, north London.

But as officers approached, he shot himself with the crossbow, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

He spent the next 10 weeks in hospital, closely guarded by police officers.

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

"Despite this, in the moments following his detention, they worked to save his life."

Image source, Supplied

Speaking in court earlier, John Hunt said he believed his daughter Hannah's bravery in calling the police had saved his life.

When Clifford arrived at the family home, he checked the driveway to see how many vehicles were there. He then searched online for "horse racing today".

Police believe he was trying to establish if Mr Hunt, a BBC racing commentator, was at home.

Clifford also asked Carol if Mr Hunt was home before he entered the property.

In his statement this morning, Mr Hunt said he had been "gifted" a future, thanks to Hannah raising the alarm.

"I really believe that had she not managed to show such amazing physical and mental strength… then I would have been [Clifford's] fourth victim that day," he said.

"Hannah handed me a second chance; one that she worked so hard to achieve for me."

Six days before the murders, Clifford legally purchased a crossbow online, along with a cocking device and six bolts, for £350.

He also bought a specialist butchering knife, rope, petrol cans and duct tape, as well as ordering an air pistol, which never arrived.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

Brian Farmer
Reporting from Cambridge Crown Court

I’ve been a reporter for 43 years and have covered some horrific events, including Hillsborough, the Soham murders and those of Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright.

But the murders of Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt had a horror all of their own.

Why did Kyle Clifford do it? What an inexplicable waste of life.

A mother and two daughters dead and at least four more lives irrevocably changed - those of John Hunt, Amy Hunt, Hannah Hunt's partner Alex Klein… and Clifford himself.

The ability of humans to carry on after unbearable loss has always amazed me.

The families of the Hillsborough 97, the parents of Holly and Jessica; now John and Amy Hunt and Alex Klein.

Three ordinary people in an extraordinary situation. What they said - and the way they coped - at Cambridge Crown Court today was amazing.

Image source, Contributed

The trial heard Clifford had been a trooper in the Queen's Dragoon Guards, but left the Army after two years in 2022, without seeing active service.

Addressing this during sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan said: "You have been referred to at times as a former soldier.

"In many cases that would serve as significant mitigation.

"Not so in your case, however, as your two years in the army included 286 days at home claiming to be ill. You never saw active service.

"Your utility to the armed forces can be gleaned in a parting comment from your commanding officer that: 'His character is wholly unsuited to military employment and he has no care nor concern beyond himself.'"

Image source, PA Media

We have also just heard from Lisa Kiff, a senior prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service.

She says Clifford is a murderer and a rapist "who, at every turn, has attempted to escape the gravity of his actions".

Ms Kiff says he showed a lack of remorse for the "truly inhumane crimes" he committed.

"While Clifford pleaded guilty to the murders of Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt, the Crown Prosecution Service took the decision to proceed with the rape charge.

"This was to ensure full justice was secured for Louise, and to ensure that Clifford could be sentenced for the full extent of his offending.

"That decision has been vindicated by his conviction for the rape and by the sentence passed today as Clifford will never be released from prison."

Ms Kiff says John and Amy Hunt showed strength and courage by attending court throughout last week's two-and-a-half day trial.

"We hope today’s sentence, which ensures Clifford can never hurt anyone again, can help the Hunt family with their healing process as they navigate the future and continue to honour the lives of Carol, Louise and Hannah," she adds.

Image source, PA Media

We're now hearing from Det Ch Insp Nick Gardner, senior investigating officer in the case, outside court.

"This has been a harrowing case and while we welcome the whole-life orders, it will never make up for the loss of Louise, Hannah and Carol – three vibrant women in the prime of their lives," he says.

"The Hunt family have shown immense dignity and composure throughout this horrendous time and my thoughts remain with them.

"Clifford has again shown himself to be a coward. Clifford armed himself with a crossbow and knife in order to attack three innocent women.

"They resisted him bravely, with Hannah raising the alarm, which ultimately helped police catch Clifford.

“Then despite overwhelming evidence, Clifford denied raping Louise which meant the Hunt family had to sit through days of distressing evidence.

"This is while Clifford himself failed to attend court or hear his punishment, despite provisions being made for him.

"Clifford has many years ahead of him to consider the consequences of his crimes and the senseless devastation he has brought to others."

You can watch part of Mr Justice Bennathan's sentencing of Kyle Clifford below.

While the whole-life order imposed upon Clifford for each murder is the headline punishment, a number of factors contributed to the judge coming to that decision.

Clifford received a whole-life term for the murders of each Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt - crimes he admitted in January.

He was handed concurrent sentences for the below crimes:

• Twenty years for the rape of Louise Hunt, of which he was convicted last week
• Eight years for falsely imprisoning her
• One year for possession of an offensive weapon, namely a crossbow
• And another year for possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knife