Tributes pour in for family killed in crossbow attack

BBC commentator’s wife and daughters were loveliest, gentlest’ people say friends, colleagues and neighbours

- ANDY GREGORY

Emotional tributes have been paid to a mother and her two daughters killed in a crossbow attack in Hertfordshire, with friends, neighbours and colleagues describing them as the “loveliest, gentlest” family.

Shocked residents left flowers at the scene in Ashlyn Close as they spoke of their horror, paying tribute to the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt as “the most gentle, beautiful family”, who is understood to have a third daughter.

Carol Hunt, 61, along with Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, was discovered with fatal wounds at their home in Bushey on Tuesday, with 26-year-old suspect Kyle Clifford tracked down by police at Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield the following evening after an extensive manhunt.

Detectives have yet to speak to Clifford, who remains in a serious condition in hospital, but a crossbow has been recovered. Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed it had received no previous reports of incidents, after exploring whether there had been previous contact with Clifford or the victims – as it emerged Louise was the ex-partner of the suspect.

During his trip to the Nato summit in Washington DC, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC: “First let me just say how awful this incident was, and our condolences and thoughts are obviously with all of the family members and family affected. In relation to crossbows, the home secretary has announced that she will look at the legislation, and she will.”

Yesterday, further searches took place at a house linked to Clifford’s brother, Bradley Clifford, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for the murder of moped passenger Soban Khan in 2018.