BBC star John Hunt ‘is the very best of men’ who ‘lived for his family’ before wife & daughters were killed, pals reveal
BBC star John Hunt has been described by pals as “the very best of men” who “lived for his family” before his wife and daughters were killed in a crossbow attack.
Carol Hunt, 61, Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were found dead at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July last year.
Louise’s ex Kyle Clifford was arrested following a manhunt but was unable to be interviewed while he was treated for an injury in hospital.
Crossbow killer Clifford appeared at Cambridge Crown Court earlier this week where he dramatically changed his plea on three counts of murder to guilty.
Following the deaths, Mr Hunt said the devastation he and his surviving daughter Amy feel “cannot be put into words”.
But the brave racing commentator returned to work just 60 days after the horrific deaths of his family.
Mr Hunt, who was not in court on Wednesday, had been commentating on the big race at Ascot on Saturday.
He is expected to be working again for BBC Radio 5 Live this weekend.
A colleague told MailOnline: “Perhaps returning to work so soon was his way of dealing with the trauma.
“All of us in racing were heartbroken. He is a fine broadcaster but the thing that struck us was how devoted he was as a family man.
“He talked of them all a great deal.”
Another friend said that John has clearly found some comfort in working again.
However, he is said to now keep to himself more following the tragedy.
“I saw him walking across the course alone recently. I fully understand why,” a colleague said.
Clifford also admitted false imprisonment after tying Louise up and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.
But the murderer denied raping Louise on July 9 – the same day the family were killed – and will stand trial for that count on March 3.
Clifford dropped out of the Army after two years, according to a former colleague.
They claimed the killer never fitted in at the Queen’s Dragoons after joining in 2019.
It was also claimed Clifford had failed phase one training at ATC Pirbright in Brookwood, Surrey.
His former colleague said: “Kyle didn’t change throughout service. People got so frustrated with him.
“Everyone had to pick up the slack. He wasn’t a good soldier.”
One of three children, Clifford’s older brother Bradley, 30, is serving a life sentence for the murder of a young moped rider who smashed a bottle against his car during a row in 2017.
He was given a minimum 23-year tariff after ramming his 18-year-old victim at 60mph with his Ford Mustang before beating him as he lay fatally injured.