A man has admitted murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt.
Kyle Clifford, 26, from north London, had previously denied the murders in a court hearing in December.
Carol Hunt, 61, was fatally stabbed, and daughters Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, suffered fatal crossbow bolt injuries in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 2024.
Clifford changed his plea to the murder during an appearance via video link at Cambridge Crown Court according to the BBC.
Clifford had served in the military from 2019 for around three years and was taken to hospital after he shot himself in the chest with the crossbow.
During the hearing where he admitted the murders, he also denied a charge of rape in connection to Louise Hunt.
Hertfordshire Police were notified of the incident by Hannah Hunt, who told officers she feared she was going to die after she had been shot.
The 28-year-old was found in the main doorway of a property in Ashlyn Close and was still alive when officers arrived at 19:10 BST. The incident prompted a manhunt, before Clifford was found injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield.
On July 11, two days after the attacks, Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk, held a minute's silence in tribute to the victims. BBC Racing correspondent John Hunt, returned to work around two months after the tragic events and opened up about why he chose Brighton to make his return.
“It’s been 60 days since my girls, Carol, Hannah and Louise, were killed and, whilst Amy and I still feel so wounded and vulnerable, returning to work at Brighton felt achievable and realistic," he told The Telegraph.
“Carol and I had our last weekend away together in Brighton at the end of May and, looking out from the press box, out to sea, my knees buckled recalling us on the wild rapids ride on the pier just over three months ago.
“Soaked to the skin and laughing like teenagers.
“But I know the girls are with me, at all times and would have been gently encouraging me to take a breath or two, and stride on.”
John, who has a third daughter named Amy, thanked everyone for their "kindness" in the aftermath of the events.
"The warmth from everyone at the track was so striking with hugs and kindness washing over me all day," he added. "My thanks to everyone who has contacted me, to Racetech who made things so straightforward, and all racegoers who said hello.
“Amy and I are determined to take small steps forward whenever we feel able. To that end, today was a good day and I’m grateful for it.”
Featured Image Credit: Hertfordshire Police/PA Wire
Luke Alfred Davies