John Hunt, a well-known BBC horse racing commentator, has spoken publicly for the first time since the tragic murders of his wife Carol and two daughters, Louise and Hannah, in July 2024. Alongside his surviving daughter Amy, John shared a deeply emotional interview with Victoria Derbyshire, revealing the enduring love and resilience that has helped them navigate their unimaginable grief.
The brutal attack took place in their family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, when Kyle Clifford, Louise's ex-partner, carried out a horrifying spree of violence. Clifford fatally stabbed Carol, 61, before restraining, raping, and murdering Louise, 25, with a crossbow. He then shot Hannah, 28, also with the crossbow, when she returned home from work. The ordeal lasted five hours and left the family shattered.
John believes that Clifford intended to kill him as well, making him a 'fourth victim' who miraculously escaped. He credits Hannah's bravery in her final moments with saving his life. Despite her injuries, Hannah managed to send a text message to her boyfriend Alex and called 999, providing critical details about the attack and the perpetrator. John said, "Police officers of 30 years' experience had their breath taken away by how brave she was, how she was able to think so clearly in that moment, to know what she needed to do." He added, "That's what I believe. I said it in court and I said many, many times, her doing that has given me life. And I've used that to re-ground myself on a daily basis."
Clifford, a former soldier, was later found in a cemetery in Enfield, north London, where he had shot and paralysed himself with a crossbow. At Cambridge Crown Court, he was sentenced to three whole life orders. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, described Clifford as a man "soaked in self-pity" who held women "in utter contempt," while praising the victims for their "gentle heroism."
In the interview, John and Amy sought to correct misleading media portrayals of Louise's relationship with Clifford. Some reports claimed Clifford tried to control Louise's appearance and social life, which John dismissed as "extraordinary, off the scale inaccurate." Amy concurred, saying, "I think she would be aghast by that portrayal." John emphasized the importance of setting the record straight, stating, "That's why we're here, Victoria, it's to point fingers at how that sort of thing ever goes to print. But it's our role to correct that, it's so important to do that."
John also shared a poignant moment reflecting on Louise's strength after ending the relationship with Clifford. He described how Louise had texted Clifford the day after their breakup, thanking him for the year they spent together and hoping there would be no animosity. He called her handling of the breakup "textbook" and "perfectly" done. He read aloud a TikTok video Louise had posted shortly after, which included the lines: "Don't you feel embarrassed for sticking around that long? Embarrassed? My heart is the best part about me. And who I am as a person. I will never be embarrassed for loving someone with everything in me because that is how I would want someone to love me. Yes it didn't work out but I don't regret loving him and how hard I loved." John choked up as he expressed pride in Louise's capacity to love deeply, adding, "I'm proud of myself for realising that love is always worth giving when it may not be received. I truly think they needed that love a lot more than I did at that time and maybe this will be the reason they never treat a person like that."
The family vividly recalled happier times, such as a sushi dinner in May 2024, two months before the murders, when the sisters talked about how fortunate they were to have had such a loving family. Amy remembered, "We were talking about how lucky we'd been as a family, to have had the parents we've had and the life we've had." John recalled Hannah coming home from that dinner "barnstorming through the door," expressing their gratitude and happiness for their life together.
Despite the overwhelming loss, John returned to work just 60 days after the murders, resuming his role as a racing commentator at the Brighton races. Friends and colleagues praised his bravery and devotion to family. One colleague said, "John is the bravest man I know. And an incredible talent, with no ego." Another noted how John now keeps to himself more, understandably affected by the tragedy.
John and Amy also spoke about the challenges they faced during the legal proceedings, including hearing details of the case in court and media reports they had not been privy to, as well as logistical issues such as Clifford's absences from court due to transportation problems. The Crown Prosecution Service issued an apology to the Hunt family, expressing "the utmost admiration" for their strength and courage throughout the process.
Throughout their grief, John and Amy have maintained a daily connection with their lost loved ones. John shared, "From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them. Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, 'Sorry I can't be with you, I'm with your mum at the moment.' As I close my eyes at night, I chat to them as well. They're very close to me all the time." Amy expressed a desire to "breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully-rounded people," refusing to allow their identities to be defined solely by their tragic deaths.
Reflecting on the dark days following the murders, John admitted, "When it happened I thought, 'How on earth am I ever going to be able to care about anything ever again?' It's fine to sit with that thought in the wreckage of what was our personal disaster. But you come to realise that, with a little bit of work, you can find some light again."
As the first anniversary of the murders approaches in July 2025, John and Amy's interview, titled "Standing Strong: The John and Amy Hunt Interview," aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on June 26, 2025. Their story is a testament to the enduring power of love and resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
