Man accused of murdering star's wife and daughters appears in court

A man accused of murdering BBC star John Hunt's wife and two daughters appeared in court in a wheelchair today.

Kyle Clifford, 26, has been charged with the murders of Carol Hunt, 61, and her children Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25.

Police arrived at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and discovered the sisters had both been shot in the chest with a crossbow, according to an earlier hearing.

Mrs Hunt was said to have died from stab wounds to her chest and abdomen.

Clifford was arrested the day after the women's bodies were found on July 9 following a nationwide manhunt. He was found injured in a cemetery near his home in Enfield, north London.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of murder, false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons, namely a crossbow and ten-inch butcher's knife.

Racing commentator Mr Hunt, who has another daughter, Amy, bravely returned to work 60 days after the tragic incident.

Bearded Clifford appeared at Cambridge Crown Court by videolink from a small room at HMP Belmarsh this morning.

Dressed in a prison-issue grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, he clasped his hands while sat in a wheelchair throughout the 15-minute hearing. He was not asked to enter a plea and didn't speak.

Mr Justice Johnson adjourned the case without a date for a further hearing being set, although the possibility of one early next month was discussed.

During a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in September, prosecutor David Burns described how Hannah made a tragic last 999 call before she died.

'Police were called by Hannah Hunt… the call was cut off,' he said.

'[The] call was re-established to call an ambulance before the call was cut off again.

'Police arrived at the address to find Hannah by the door, shot in the chest with a crossbow.

'Louise was tied [up] and had also been shot with a crossbow. And Carol had been stabbed with a knife and suffered multiple injuries.

'All three were treated at the scene but all three passed away.'

Officers were unable to question Clifford at first as he was receiving treatment for his injury in hospital, where he remained under arrest. He was charged on September 16.

The false imprisonment charge states the defendant 'assaulted and unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned Louise Hunt and detained her against her will'.

Speaking after Clifford was charged, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit, said: 'Over the past couple of months, we have been working hard to gather as much evidence as possible and establish the full circumstances of what happened that day.

'Today, we have managed to secure charges against Kyle Clifford in connection with the murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt.

'Although it has taken some time to reach this stage, we can now move forward with the judicial process and seek justice for their family.'

Lisa Ramsarran, chief crown prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service's Thames and Chiltern region, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Hertfordshire Constabulary to charge Kyle Clifford with three counts of murder following the deaths of Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt in Bushey on Tuesday, July 9.

'Mr Clifford, 26, who was later found by police in Enfield, has also been charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon and one count of false imprisonment.

'Our thoughts remain with the Hunt family and all those who have been affected by this tragic incident.

'As criminal proceedings are active, there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that could prejudice the defendant's right to a fair trial.'

Mr Hunt returned to work for the BBC in Brighton on September 9.

In a tribute to the three victims, he and Amy said: 'The devastation that we are experiencing cannot be put into words.'

In a further statement read to Sky Sports Racing viewers by his colleague, Matt Chapman, Mr Hunt spoke of his 'magnificently inspirational' surviving daughter.

'Notwithstanding the horrid evil that's swept through our lives, wreaking devastation on an unimaginable scale, the counter to that has been the breathtaking messages of support, some of which are still to be read,' he said.

'Amy, my eldest daughter, has been magnificently inspirational with her control and support for me, which I am trying, trying so hard, to replicate.

'Every message has felt so important, the same as a reassuring hug. We know people are worried about us. We will get through this.'

An inquest was formally opened into the case in July but adjourned until the end of criminal proceedings.

A trial is expected to take place next spring.