Latest news with #AmyHunt
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Amy Hunt says murder of mother and sisters was ‘rooted in misogyny'
Amy Hunt, whose mother and two sisters were murdered in their home last year, has said the attack was 'rooted in misogyny', calling for radical societal changes to address the 'epidemic' of violence against women and young girls. Amy's mother, Carol, 61, and sisters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were killed in July by Kyle Clifford, her youngest sister's former partner. The three women were the wife and daughters of the BBC racing commentator John Hunt. Clifford, 26, from Enfield, north London, fatally stabbed Carol after he followed her into her home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, under the pretence he was bringing over some of his former partner's belongings. He then waited for Louise to arrive, before raping her and using a crossbow to shoot her and Hannah. Speaking to the BBC in their first interview since the murders, Amy said: 'Violence against women and girls in all its forms … doesn't have to be as catastrophic as this, because it happens in small ways every single day. 'We've got a serious obligation as a society to change men's behaviour because this is a man's issue – it's not a woman's issue.' Asked whether Clifford's attack was fuelled by the social media content of Andrew Tate, whose videos he had watched in the days before the murders, Amy said: 'I think it's ridiculous to say that Kyle Clifford was not capable of murder, watched Andrew Tate, and became capable of murder and rape. 'We live in society that in many cases emboldens misogyny, allows misogyny to fester. It's not just Andrew Tate, there are many subsets of Andrew Tate on social media.' Issuing a message to 'young women in a troubled relationship', John Hunt said: 'Try and find the strength to extricate yourself from that, because you deserve so much better.' John called for young boys to begin receiving education about misogyny from as early as nursery. He said: 'I think schools should have far more freedom to explain, get young boys to behave correctly towards women, at the earliest possible age. I mean nursery age.' John described media reports claiming Hannah and Clifford had an 'abusive' relationship as 'ill-informed' and 'off-the-scale inaccurate'. He said Clifford 'violated us and our family in the most horrific of ways, but what those stories felt like was a continued violation'. Reflecting on her mother and sisters, Amy said: 'They are the representation of all things good. 'They worked hard, loved hard, had fun, travelled, went and did the things they loved, spent time with the people they loved, were kind, caring, considerate. 'They don't stop being your sisters, your mum, when they pass away. I'll always be one of three sisters, we'll always be a family of five.' Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Misogyny is an epidemic fuelled by social media, Amy Hunt tells BBC in first interview
Amy Hunt, whose mother and two sisters were murdered in their own home last year, has told the BBC there is an "epidemic" of misogyny in society that has "the most horrific, devastating consequences".In her first interview since the murders of her mum, Carol, and sisters, Hannah and Louise, Amy say the UK "should be very concerned" about sexist, hateful content on social media - calling on media platforms, people in power, schools and "every single one of us" to do something about tells the BBC people are "slowly waking up" to the links between hate posted on social media and violence against women by men in real man who killed her loved ones was Kyle Clifford, her youngest sister's ex-boyfriend. The attacks came two weeks after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. Amy describes Clifford as a man filled with hatred, self-loathing, and a deep insecurity. "It's very clear he hates women," she says. "But what I often say is, he doesn't hate women as much as he hates himself."She says there is "a serious obligation as a society to change men's behaviour, because this is a man's issue - it is not a woman's issue".Amy has been speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire alongside her father, racing commentator John John and Amy Hunt's interview with BBC's Victoria DerbyshireThe pair describe the legacy of love Carol, Hannah and Louise have left. John says it is this that has helped sustain them through their trauma and grief. The three women remain a constant presence in their lives, he adds that her mother and sisters were "the best of us" and says "the world is a much emptier place without them".Clifford fatally stabbed 61-year-old Carol in July last year after he followed her into her home, in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on the pretext of bringing over some of his former partner Louise's then lay in wait for Louise, 25, before raping her, and using a crossbow to shoot both her and her sister Hannah, can watch the full interview, Standing Strong: The John and Amy Hunt interview, with Victoria Derbyshire at 21:00 BST on BBC1 and on iPlayer In March this year, he was sentenced to three whole-life orders, meaning he will never be released from and Amy strongly reject reports in some media that there were clear signs of abuse by Clifford during his relationship with in the case did, however, say Clifford's actions had been fuelled by the "violent misogyny" promoted by controversial social media personality Andrew Tate, whose videos he had watched in the days before the had searched for Tate's podcast the day before carrying out the court was told it was no coincidence that he had turned to such content before carrying out the violence. Amy says she believes there was an "undeniable link".But she also says any suggestion that Clifford was not dangerous, or that he only became capable of murder after watching misogynistic content, is "ridiculous". She says, however, we live in a society that "emboldens misogyny" and "allows misogyny to fester"."It's not just Andrew Tate, there are many subsets of Andrew Tate on social media who are spouting the same misogynistic hate - that is an undeniable fact and we should be very concerned about it." She feels misogyny is "the acceptable form of extremism" on social media platforms."We've got a serious issue on our hands, and we don't give it the attention it deserves until it forces its way into your life, like it has ours," she says the minute Clifford left their home on the day of the incident, "my mum, Hannah and Louise became a statistic. They became victims of Kyle Clifford." She wants "to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully-rounded people".When sentencing Clifford in March, the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, described him as a "jealous man soaked in self-pity, who holds women in utter contempt". The attacks, the judge added, were "brutal and cowardly".Reflecting on these words, John says: "I know it's difficult to hear, but it's worth remembering that he killed Carol in the most brutal way, and [he] still had choices after that. "He didn't choose to say, 'oh my God, what have I done? I've got to get out of here'. His choice then was to say, 'I've killed Carol, and now I'm going to sit and wait for an hour and a half. I'm going to kill Louise as well, and whatever time Hannah turns up, [do the] same'."The amount of time that day, on 9 July, he would have just been sitting there making a conscious decision to do the next step. It's impossible for us to comprehend, isn't it?"He says schools should teach boys to respect women and girls much earlier than they currently do. Once boys start viewing dangerous, misogynistic content online, he adds, "they're already on the path to doom".Amy says she believes misogynist influencers "don't care" about the men and boys who watch their content."Who are the people that do care about the men in our society? It's the people who love them, the people who know them," she says. "It's a question of what sort of world are we comfortable living in."If you've been affected by some of the issues raised in this story details of support are available at BBC Action Line.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
John Hunt says he still talks to murdered wife and daughters ‘every day'
BBC racing commentator John Hunt has said he still speaks to his wife and two daughters daily after they were murdered in a crossbow and knife attack at their family home. Kyle Clifford, 26, killed his ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, in a quiet cul-de-sac in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year. A trial heard Clifford became 'enraged' when Louise ended their 18-month relationship, leading him to 'carefully' plan the attack. He was sentenced to a whole-life order at Cambridge Crown Court in March after pleading guilty to the murders, while he was later convicted of raping Louise in a 'violent, sexual act of spite'. Giving their first interviews since the murders, Mr Hunt and his surviving daughter Amy Hunt said they were both keen to keep the spirit of their loved ones alive. Mr Hunt told BBC News: 'From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them. 'Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, ' Girls, 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. So yeah, very close (to me) all the time.' Amy Hunt said: 'My mum, Hannah and Louise became a statistic. They became victims of Kyle Clifford. 'I want to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully-rounded people.' Clifford gained access to the family home by deceiving Mrs Hunt into thinking he was returning some of Louise's things, then stabbed her to death in a brutal knife attack. After killing Mrs Hunt, the defendant waited for an hour for Louise to enter the house, then restrained, raped and murdered her with a crossbow. He then fatally shot Hannah Hunt with the weapon when she returned to the property after work. Amy said there was nothing in Clifford's behaviour leading up to the incident that suggested he was capable of committing such crimes, but it had become clear by the end of his relationship with Louise that he was 'not that nice of a person'. She said: 'Did we have any indication that this man was capable of stabbing my mother, of tying Louise up, of raping Louise, of shooting Louise and shooting Hannah? Absolutely not.' Mr Hunt said: 'He never once hit her. He was in the house an awful lot in that 18 months – I never heard raised voices once.' He said he recalled his three daughters going out for sushi a few weeks prior to the attack, before Hannah said on their return 'how lucky' they had been as a family. Mr Hunt added: 'It's a beautiful thing to recall. It was a beautiful thing to hear at the same time.' Hannah was able to message her boyfriend and call 999 in the moments before she died in the attack, telling them what had happened and who was responsible. Asked if his daughter's actions had saved his life, Mr Hunt said: '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.' He added: 'I get to live. Hannah gave me that, and I've got to treat it as a gift from her.' Clifford refused to attend his sentencing in person or via video link and was not ordered to be forcibly brought before the court as the judge believed he may have disrupted proceedings. Amy said the act was evidence there was 'consistently a system that prioritises the perpetrator', adding: 'That's a traumatising thing for so many people.' Mr Hunt, who still lives in the family home, said his return to commentary work had helped him move forward in the months after the sentencing. He said: '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.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
BBC star John Hunt says ‘I still talk to them every day' after crossbow murder of wife and daughters
BBC racing commentator John Hunt broke down in an emotional interview opening up for the first time about the murder of his wife and two daughters. In a heartbreaking chat with his daughter Amy, Mr Hunt said his wife, Carol, and two daughters, Hannah and Louise, leave behind a 'legacy of love'. Kyle Clifford, 26, killed his ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, in a quiet cul-de-sac in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9July last year. Speaking publicly for the first time since the murders, Mr Hunt revealed he still speaks to them every day and his wife and daughters had lived a life of 'complete happiness'. He told the BBC: "From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them. "Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, 'girls, 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." Mr Hunt and Amy decided to speak out for the first time because they do not want to be defined by the deaths of their family. They also said the initial reporting of the deaths was inaccurate, and it added to their grief. "I want to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully-rounded people,' Amy added. The BBC 5 Live horse racing commentator said he also rejects the reports that Louise was in an abusive relationship with Clifford. They said the family were very close and talked all the time, sharing everything with each other. Louise owned a dog grooming business, and Hannah worked in beauty and aesthetics. Their life was "one of complete happiness - awash with it, really,' Mr Hunt said. Amy recalled going out to sushi with her two sisters one evening and said: "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 thought back to when Amy had returned home and told him and Carol what they had discussed. "It's a beautiful thing to recall,' he said. "It was a beautiful thing to hear at the time." Clifford gained access to the family home by deceiving Carol Hunt, then stabbed her to death. It was less than two weeks after Louise had broken up with him. After killing Mrs Hunt, he waited for an hour for Louise to enter the house, then restrained, raped and murdered her with a crossbow. He then fatally shot Hannah Hunt when she returned to the property in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after work. Mr Hunt said Hannah had saved his life by sending a text to her boyfriend before she died, which alerted the police to who committed the murders. The racing commentator was in central London at the time and believed Clifford had planned to kill him too. "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," Mr Hunt said. "I said it in court, and I said many, many times, her doing that has given me life,' he added. John and Amy said that the family struggled to warm to Clifford completely. They considered him to be immature and inconsiderate. However, he said that nothing had pointed to Clifford being capable of murder. "But did we have any indication that this man was capable of stabbing my mother, of raping Louise, of shooting Louise and Hannah? Absolutely not,' Amy added. Prosecutors said at the time Clifford became 'enraged' when Louise ended their 18-month relationship, leading him to 'carefully' plan the murders. Police launched a manhunt for the killer and eventually found him injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, north London, after he shot himself in the chest with the crossbow. He was left paralysed from the chest down.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
BBC star John Hunt says ‘I still talk to them every day' after crossbow murder of wife and daughters
BBC racing commentator John Hunt broke down in an emotional interview opening up for the first time about the murder of his wife and two daughters. In a heartbreaking chat with his daughter Amy, Mr Hunt said his wife, Carol, and two daughters, Hannah and Louise, leave behind a 'legacy of love'. Kyle Clifford, 26, killed his ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, in a quiet cul-de-sac in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9July last year. Speaking publicly for the first time since the murders, Mr Hunt revealed he still speaks to them every day and his wife and daughters had lived a life of 'complete happiness'. He told the BBC: "From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them. "Sometimes I say out loud to Hannah and Louise, 'girls, 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." Mr Hunt and Amy decided to speak out for the first time because they do not want to be defined by the deaths of their family. They also said the initial reporting of the deaths was inaccurate, and it added to their grief. "I want to breathe life back into my mum, Hannah and Louise as fully-rounded people,' Amy added. The BBC 5 Live horse racing commentator said he also rejects the reports that Louise was in an abusive relationship with Clifford. They said the family were very close and talked all the time, sharing everything with each other. Louise owned a dog grooming business, and Hannah worked in beauty and aesthetics. Their life was "one of complete happiness - awash with it, really,' Mr Hunt said. Amy recalled going out to sushi with her two sisters one evening and said: "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 thought back to when Amy had returned home and told him and Carol what they had discussed. "It's a beautiful thing to recall,' he said. "It was a beautiful thing to hear at the time." Clifford gained access to the family home by deceiving Carol Hunt, then stabbed her to death. It was less than two weeks after Louise had broken up with him. After killing Mrs Hunt, he waited for an hour for Louise to enter the house, then restrained, raped and murdered her with a crossbow. He then fatally shot Hannah Hunt when she returned to the property in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after work. Mr Hunt said Hannah had saved his life by sending a text to her boyfriend before she died, which alerted the police to who committed the murders. The racing commentator was in central London at the time and believed Clifford had planned to kill him too. "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," Mr Hunt said. "I said it in court, and I said many, many times, her doing that has given me life,' he added. John and Amy said that the family struggled to warm to Clifford completely. They considered him to be immature and inconsiderate. However, he said that nothing had pointed to Clifford being capable of murder. "But did we have any indication that this man was capable of stabbing my mother, of raping Louise, of shooting Louise and Hannah? Absolutely not,' Amy added. Prosecutors said at the time Clifford became 'enraged' when Louise ended their 18-month relationship, leading him to 'carefully' plan the murders. Police launched a manhunt for the killer and eventually found him injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, north London, after he shot himself in the chest with the crossbow. He was left paralysed from the chest down.
