17 hours ago
10
The sentencing of Kyle Clifford for the murders of Carol Hunt and her daughters Louise and Hannah has heard emotionally charged victim statements, paying tribute to the women and describing the ex-soldier as “a monster”.
Clifford was given a whole-life order at Cambridge crown court for the murder and rape of his ex-partner, Louise Hunt, and the killings of her mother and sister.
Before the sentencing, which Clifford refused to attend, the court was addressed by the BBC broadcaster John Hunt, Carol’s husband and father to the two young women. He was followed by Alex Klein, Hannah’s partner, and Amy Hunt, the women’s sister.
John Hunt (Husband of Carol Hunt and father of Louise and Hannah)
“Do I really need to detail the impact of having three quarters of my family murdered?” asked Hunt, addressing Clifford directly.
“But then I realised that this was my final opportunity to say what I want to say to you specifically, Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family, who will carry guilt forward for the rest of their lives; I know you valued them so poorly from all the conversations we had, Kyle, but I suppose even they must be damaged by what you have done.
“I also want to confirm to the world the truth, especially how Louise conducted herself within a textbook, mature breakup on her part, understanding the conflict of saying goodbye to someone she once loved but not allowing those memories to cloud her certain knowledge that you simply failed to be the person she needed. You failed.
“Unlike you, Kyle, at every step of their lives they made the correct choices to improve themselves as people; Louise enjoyed more success and fulfilment in one morning than you achieved in your entire miserable life.
“We all offered you kindness, especially Carol. She had picked up on your personal inadequacies right from the start. She sensed your immaturity but always knew Louise would work things out.
“Carol still displayed her compassion right up until the moment she answered the door to you on July 9th.
“I often think of the list Louise wrote to herself to remind her of the reasons that you fell short. The racism. She was rightly disgusted by that. Your belittling language. The fact that your family is a mess. Like any women should be allowed to do, she worked you out despite repeated deceit and said enough is enough. I hope women around the world will take Louise’s bravery as a shining beacon for their lives. If you feel enough is enough, then it is.”
Hunt spoke of Louise’s favourite novel from her school days, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and how she would quote lines from it to match life’s challenges. One of them was about the goodness of mockingbirds who “don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy”.
He added: “All their lives Carol, Hannah and Louise similarly spent their time bringing joy and colour and happiness to other people’s lives. You killed three beautiful mockingbirds, Kyle.
“The impact of what you have done will be taken to my grave, but on the way there, I want you to know that I stand strong before you today. As you are consigned to a fate far greater than death, I can draw on the love and strength that I still feel from the girls in every moment of every day. I am lucky. I have the most wonderful daughter, Amy, who gives me such focus and purpose.
“Whatever sentence you are about to receive, whatever misery lies ahead for you for the next 60 years, remember that after your days on earth are done, on your dying day, there will be no release for you. The screams of hell, Kyle, I can hear them faintly now. The red carpet will come out for you. At that point, when the person you could have been meets the person you are, you will realise your miserable fate will last for eternity.”
Alex Klein
Clifford was described by Klein as “a coward - you simply were not good enough for an angel like Louise”.
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“Hannah completed my life. I would give anything to have her back. She deserved to have the happiest life with me,” he said.
“Kyle, the world knows how pathetic you are and that my Hannah stopped you in your tracks. You are a weak and insecure little boy who compulsively lied.”
Paying tribute to his partner, Klein said: “Hannah can only be described as an angel. She would never lay a finger on anyone.
“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. She was my world, the perfect woman, she supported me and understood me in every way.”
Amy Hunt
Clifford was described as a “monster” by Amy Hunt, who spoke of his rape and murder of Louise Hunt and said that what he did “to my baby sister is nothing short of demonic”.
“That day, and every day leading up to it, Kyle, you had a choice and you chose to inflict violence on a horrific scale, all for your own selfish and sadistic aims.
“All the time, truly thinking of yourself alone, I can only assume that in the days after Louise broke up with you in the kindest, most respectful way ... you created some kind of false narrative in your head about how we had supposedly wronged you in order to allow you to avoid confronting the pain and shame within you and the truth - that the break-up was entirely your fault.
“That day, my mum, Hannah and Louise were all simply living their lives, getting on with their day in the home working or returning to their home after work.
“Their home is a place that was and should have continued to be safe for them and you made it the most unsafe place in the world for those few hours - you are a monster.”
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In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
