Mr Justice Bennathan has just said Clifford would have been aware of “routines” in the Hunt household because he had been going out with Louise for more than a year.

Alison Morgan KC says he was in "sure knowledge" that Carol Hunt would be home on the day of the attacks.

She says the killer knew he needed "a ruse" to gain access to the home, so he created a thank you card for the family and took a bag containing items belonging to Louise.

"This is a very clear plan to get into the address," Morgan adds.

Emergency workers found Carol and Louise Hunt's bodies surrounded by blankets when they arrived at shortly after 19:00 BST, the court hears.

Alison Morgan KC says he was considering setting a fire within the property.

She adds: "The defendant was contemplating the destruction of evidence."

Alison Morgan KC is now explaining how Clifford spoke to his brother about crossbows in the run-up to the attacks.

His brother is a convicted murderer who is in prison.

She said: “His brother asked whether he was planning going on the rampage or something.

"The defendant had conducted research, certainly on the use of a crossbow. He had fully understood its fatal nature."

Mr Justice Bennathan adds Clifford's conversations with his brother had been recorded and he had "never spoken of trying to hurt anyone".

However, Clifford did mention he had a "massive" Japanese sword.

Image source, Reuters

A witness statement from a friend of Louise Hunt has outlined Clifford's interest in the self-described misogynist and social media personality Andrew Tate.

Alison Morgan KC says: "She observed the defendant putting on a video of Andrew Tate. It was a video showing animals being drugged.

"She asked the defendant why he was watching it and he said it was funny."

Morgan reveals Clifford searched online for Tate's podcast on 8 July - the night before the attacks in Bushey.

She adds: "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.

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".

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

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

The court hears Clifford had relationships with two other women while he was also in a relationship with Louise Hunt.

Alison Morgan KC says one of those relationships started in January 2024, while the second began in April 2024.

Statements read to the court explain how one person who knew Clifford said he did not care about others and was rude.

Brian Farmer
Reporting from Cambridge Crown Court

Alison Morgan KC is now referencing Clifford's time in the army.

He had been a trooper in 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, but left after two years in 2022, having never seen active service.

Senior officers had described his potential as "minimal", while his commanding officer said he was "wholly unsuited to military employment".

The court hears the commanding officer found Clifford to be "poorly trained, lacking in motivation and unwilling to commit to soldiering".

Morgan says Clifford later worked at a catering firm, where he made "inappropriately sexualised comments" to people.

Brian Farmer
Reporting from Cambridge Crown Court

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC is on her feet and outlining the facts of the case.

She says Kyle Clifford committed "acts of extreme violence" against Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt, after Louise ended their 18-month relationship.

"Those events came to be because of their relationship ending as it did towards the later stages in June of 2024," Morgan says.

"Louise Hunt instigated the end of that relationship. She was supported in doing so by her friends and family.

"In the days that followed, the defendant was prompted to try to rekindle that relationship.

"When Louise Hunt held firm, that rejection angered the defendant. He was angry, not just at Louise Hunt, but also at the Hunt family generally."

Morgan says that anger inspired Clifford to plan a "catastrophic attack" on the Hunt family.

Mr Justice Bennathan says he asked Clifford to attend court this morning, but the defendant refused.

The judge says HMP Belmarsh offered to make Clifford follow proceedings from a video link, but Mr Justice Bennathan declined this offer.

He says he does not want to risk the proceedings being disrupted.

"If the defendant lacks the courage to face today, so be it," Mr Justice Bennathan adds.

The case has been called on at Cambridge Crown Court and proceedings are about to get under way.

As was the case with his trial, Kyle Clifford is not in attendance.

The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, has entered Court 1 and taken his seat.

The courtroom is so busy that a handful of journalists have been allowed to sit in the vacant dock and report from there.

Clifford, who has been on remand in custody since September, did not appear at the rape trial at any stage – either in person or via a link from prison.

Mr Justice Bennathan ruled the trial could go ahead in the defendant's absence, having been told by lawyers he'd refused to attend. Clifford is not expected to attend today's sentencing hearing either.

A university law lecturer says it is rare for a defendant not to attend a trial.

Image source, PA Media

"In the UK, the law requires defendants to attend their trial if they have been charged with a crime," said Dr Scott Steele, who works for Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

"In certain circumstances, a trial may proceed in the defendant's absence. This can happen if the defendant is disruptive or refuses to attend court despite being ordered to do so.

"However, such instances are rare and typically require specific judicial approval.

"The principle of open justice, which mandates that justice must be seen to be done, underscores the importance of defendants being present at their trials."

Brian Farmer
Reporting from Cambridge Crown Court

The Hunt family are now being allowed to enter Court 1 here in Cambridge.

We're expecting to also be let in shortly, with the hearing starting at 10:30.

Image source, Supplied

Kyle Clifford is 26 years old and, at the time of the attacks, lived in Rendlesham Road, Enfield, north London.

He had been a trooper in 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, but left the Army after two years in 2022, having never seen active service.

Police said his only previous interaction with them had related to a minor drugs matter and a fight he was involved in.

He is not the only murderer in his family, however. His older brother Bradley was jailed in 2018 for killing a moped rider after his "prized" Ford Mustang was damaged.

Neighbours in Enfield told the BBC how the family "kept themselves to themselves".

Clifford has been left paralysed from the chest down after unsuccessfully attempting to take his own life after the attacks last July.

• 13:07 BST - Clifford leaves his home in Rendlesham Road, Enfield, and drives to Bushey
• 13:37 - He parks in Vernon Road, Bushey, before walking towards the Hunt family home in Ashlyn Close
• 13:48 - Clifford returns to his vehicle and searches "horse racing today" online. Police believe this may have been to establish if John Hunt was home
• 13:58 - He moves his car to Bushey Grove Road, which is slightly closer to Ashlyn Close, and parks
• 14:30 - Clifford takes a rucksack from the boot of his car, believed to contain the knife, and a white plastic bag. He walks towards Ashlyn Close
• 14:32 - Carol Hunt answers the door to Clifford and they chat for a few minutes. Clifford asks if John Hunt is home and is told he is not. Louise Hunt is working in a pod in the garden
• 14:39 - Clifford enters the address, under the pretence of getting a bag. Less than a minute later he fatally stabs Carol
• 15:07 - Clifford returns to his car and collects the crossbow, which is hidden under a blanket
• 16:12 - Louise enters the home and is attacked by Clifford, who restrains her with duct tape and rapes her
• 17:52 - It is believed Louise's phone is used by Clifford to text John Hunt, to see when he will be returning home. Mr Hunt says he will be late
• 18:50 - Clifford discharges the crossbow, killing Louise. A "whooshing" sound is picked up by the home security system. Hannah Hunt returns home from work and enters the address
• 18:52 - Hannah Hunt is initially unaware of what has happened and goes upstairs, but then comes across Clifford and texts her partner to call the police
• 18:54 - Clifford shoots Hannah with the crossbow, before leaving the address with the weapon concealed
• 18:58 - Hannah makes a 999 call that disconnects, but she calls back. Her partner also calls the emergency services
• 19:10 - Emergency services arrive but a short time later Hannah dies. Carol and Louise are also declared dead shortly after

Image source, Supplied

Clifford and Louise Hunt had been in a relationship for 18 months, after meeting through a dating app.

Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court were told Louise ended the relationship two weeks before she was murdered.

She had told Clifford the relationship was “sucking the life out of me”, with the trial hearing family members were relieved when they separated.

They had been concerned about the way Clifford treated Louise, finding him disrespectful, arrogant, rude and "odd".

Louise was also witnessed to have been involved in a crash after the break-up, striking a telegraph pole with her car.

Brian Farmer
Reporting from Cambridge Crown Court

Journalists and police officers are starting to gather here at Cambridge Crown Court.

Also among those arriving this morning were John and Amy Hunt, who were taken into a room near Court 1 - where Clifford will be sentenced.

Mr Hunt is a BBC racing commentator and was married to Carol Hunt and the father of Louise and Hannah. Amy is his surviving daughter.

Neither said anything as they turned up this morning.

Kyle Clifford admitted murdering the three women at a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on 22 January.

He also admitted false imprisonment and possession of offensive weapons, but denied raping Louise Hunt.

A jury took 45 minutes to find him guilty of that offence on 6 March, following a trial lasting two-and-a-half days.

If you’re not familiar with the court system, here’s what’s likely to happen today.

The BBC has reporters in court along with other journalists from broadcasters and national newspapers. We will first all listen to the prosecution outline the facts of the case.

The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, but the judge will have to set a minimum term Kyle Clifford must serve before he can be considered for release on parole.

In some cases, the judge can hand down a "whole life tariff" - a case of "life meaning life" with no chance of parole.

The prosecution team will set out aggravating factors as to why Clifford should get a higher minimum sentence.

In this part of the hearing we might hear an impact statement read on behalf of the victims' other family members.

Then Clifford’s defence barrister, Phil Bradley KC, will present mitigation on behalf of his client, setting out reasons as to why Clifford should get a lower sentence.

Once that is all done the judge – Mr Justice Bennathan - will weigh up both arguments on what sentence he will pass.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

Kyle Clifford, from Enfield, north London, used a crossbow to murder his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, and her sister, having already stabbed their mum to death.

He also raped Louise, 25, during a four-hour onslaught two weeks after she ended their 18-month relationship.

The defendant tricked his way into the Hunt family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July last year to carry out the triple killings.

Louise died at the scene with her 61-year-old mother, Carol, and sister Hannah, 28. They were the family of BBC racing commentator John Hunt.

Clifford was arrested at a cemetery near his home, after an almost 24-hour manhunt that culminated in him unsuccessfully attempting to take his own life with the crossbow.

He spent 10 weeks in hospital before being charged with three counts of murder, false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons - crimes he admitted. Clifford was later charged with and convicted of rape.

Welcome to our live coverage of the sentencing of Kyle Clifford, who murdered three women at their home in Hertfordshire in July last year.

The hearing at Cambridge Crown Court will start at 10:30 GMT, and our reporters in court will bring you the key details on this page.

The sentencing itself will start later this afternoon, which you'll be able to watch on this page. Stick with us.

A warning that the content coming from the courtroom is likely to contain some distressing details.

Image source, PA Media