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A triple killer raped his ex-girlfriend in a “violent, sexual act of spite” during an attack that saw him murder her and her sister with a crossbow and their mother with a butcher’s knife, a court heard.

Kyle Clifford, 26, is alleged to have become “angry” when 25-year-old former partner Louise Hunt ended their 18-month relationship.

Cambridge Crown Court heard Clifford murdered Ms Hunt, her mother Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28, after deceiving his way into the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July 2024.

The defendant, of Enfield, north London, admitted murder, false imprisonment and possession of offensive weapons, but denied raping Louise Hunt.

Opening the prosecution’s case, Alison Morgan KC said Clifford “carefully planned and executed” the attacks at the cul-de-sac property.

She told jurors Clifford had admitted the murders, but they were to determine if he raped Louise Hunt.

Carol Hunt was stabbed to death, while Hannah and Louise suffered fatal injuries from a crossbow bolt.

The three women were the wife and daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, who observed the court proceedings on Tuesday from the public gallery.

“During the course of this prolonged incident, the prosecution alleges that the defendant raped Louise Hunt,” Miss Morgan said.

“It was a violent, sexual act of spite, before he then killed her.”

She said Clifford gained access to the family home by deceiving Carol Hunt, before stabbing her to death in a “brutal knife attack”.

It was alleged he then waited inside the house for Louise, who ran a dog grooming business in a pod in the family’s garden.

After she came inside, he restrained, raped and then murdered her with a crossbow, jurors heard.

He then killed Hannah Hunt with the crossbow when she came home after work.

Miss Morgan said Clifford checked Mr Hunt would not be home that day “by searching online to see what racing events were taking place”.

Clifford and Louise had been in a relationship for 18 months after meeting via online dating, the prosecutor added.

“Louise Hunt is described by her friends in the highest terms as being a caring, positive and happy person,” she said.

“However, friends and family were concerned about the effect of her relationship with the defendant.”

Louise told one friend that Clifford had a “nasty temper” and he had “behaved in an aggressive manner” several times, the trial heard.

Miss Morgan said a family member found Clifford “odd” and was concerned about how he treated her, while others “hoped the relationship would come to an end”.

“Hannah Hunt had said the family found the defendant to be disrespectful, rude and arrogant,” she added.

The prosecutor said Louise instigated the end of the relationship, but Clifford tried to “rekindle” with her.

She said when Clifford was rejected, he set about “planning an attack” on the family for favouring the break-up.

Louise had said the relationship was “sucking the life out of me”, the court heard.

In a message to Clifford on 26 June, read to the jury, Louise wrote: “I’m sorry Kyle but I feel I can’t continue with what we have, I feel like it has been broken and I can’t ignore how I’ve been feeling.

“I just feel right now I owe it to myself to take some space and walk away for my own sanity and health.

“I never want there to be anything nasty between us ever. Take care of yourself always please.”

Miss Morgan said Clifford appeared to accept “this position”, but in the days that followed he became less accepting.

Jurors were told he spent £350 online buying a crossbow, six bolts and a cocking device.

He also purchased an air pistol, which was not delivered, and duct tape, Miss Morgan said.

Clifford also researched how to source a knife before purchasing a 10-inch steel “high level butchering knife” for £89, Miss Morgan said.

The defendant, who did not attend the trial opening, served in the military for about three years from 2019.

Following the murders, he became the subject of a manhunt for a number of hours before he was found injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery, in Enfield, after shooting himself in the chest with the crossbow.

Mr Justice Bennathan has told jurors it would be “fundamentally wrong” to think Clifford must be guilty of “anything else” because he admitted murder.

The trial continues.