CROSSBOW Killer Kyle Clifford went from an “unremarkable” Army dropout to notorious triple murderer after “sexualised violence” became part of his viewpoint.
The 26-year-old carried out the “completely unforeseeable” attack on ex Louise Hunt, 25, her mum Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28, in July last year.
Clifford has been described as ‘unremarkable’ by police[/caption]
Clifford has now been found guilty of tying up and raping Louise during the triple attack at the Hunt family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Police have described the killer as an “entirely unremarkable individual” who had gone through an “amicable” break up with Louise.
But Senior investigating officer DCI Gardner also said there was nothing in messages between the couple to suggest “any violence, threat or stalking”.
It comes as:
- Clifford was today convicted of raping Louise in the day of the horror
- The monster watched Andrew Tate videos before murder
- Clifford cried fake tears in his police interview
Clifford had lost his job as a cooling engineer around the same time he was dumped by Louise – one of many he had lost over the years.
The detective explained: “He was unable to deal with this break-up, lost a number of jobs.
“He doesn’t come across as an intelligent or highly motivated individual in any way.
“It was almost like he couldn’t deal with the idea of a personal affront to him…strange when he is happy to carry out relationship’s behind Louise’ back.
“‘It is difficult to comprehend. He just went to the most extreme levels of violence for little or no cause.”
Clifford grew up in Enfield, one of four children – three boys and a girl – raised by their British father and Maltese mother.
Brother Bradley, now 30, was jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 23 years in 2018 for a road rage murder.
He mowed down two youths on a scooter after his Ford Mustang was damaged with a bottle and brutally beat 18-year-old Soban Khan as he lay dying on the ground.
Family friends say Kyle was close to Bradley and the pair kept in close touch.
Louise mentioned his brother in prison in a list she drew up of reasons why she was better off without Clifford.
She also mentioned Clifford’s opinion that road rage violence was okay.
Clifford himself had no previous history of violence other than getting into trouble for bullying on several occasions at school.
He has convictions for possession of cannabis and affray but did not serve a prison sentence for those offences.
Prior to the murders, he had been bouncing through jobs, including working briefly in security after leaving the military.
A former Army colleague told the Sun he had never fitted in at the Queen’s Dragoons after joining in 2019 before dropping out two years later.
After the Army, Clifford took a number of low-paid jobs before finding work in private security.
Despite his average lifestyle, there was a sinister side to Clifford – with jurors hearing how “sexualised violence” was a “significant feature” in his attack and part of his world viewpoint.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said: “It might be said that the rape is at the heart of these events.
“Why he wants to carry out this attack on Louise Hunt and why he wants to…..it’s all about sexualised context.”
It can now also be revealed that Clifford was under the influence of misogyny “poster boy” Andrew Tate when he murdered the family.
He had accessed material from Tate on the internet within 24 hours of carrying out the brutal attack.
On the day before the murders, Clifford told “an acquaintance” he had been watching videos and was online “looking at Tate or some of his outpourings.”
His phone also showed he had tried to search for a podcast made by British and American former kickboxer champion Tate, who is facing rape and human trafficking charges.
Ms Morgan had attempted to introduce evidence about Clifford’s interest in Tate – saying he was a “widely known misogynist.”
She said: “That is what the defendant is searching for less than 24 hours before he is trying to get into the Hunt family home.
“He is searching for that Andrew Tate podcast.
“It misogyny. He is seeking to control Louise Hunt in a final act of spite.”
Police also revealed how Clifford’s interest in Tate was one of the key reasons why Louise ended her relationship with him.
Louise, who ran a dog grooming business from home, was upset when Clifford laughed as he played a video in front of her and friends showing Tate harming an animal.
Cops found a number of videos from Tate on Clifford’s phone following his atrocity.
Herts Police Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner said friends had commented about Clifford watching the Tate video.
He said: “There’s an incident where Louise and her friends have some sort of social event and he puts on an Andrew Tate video.
“It was something about animals being harmed and he seemed to find it funny.”
Clifford had searched for disgraced influencer Andrew Tate[/caption]
