John Hunt is one step closer to justice.
Just over six months since the BBC reporter’s wife Carol Hunt, 61, and daughters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were killed in a crossbow attack carried out at the family’s home, Kyle Clifford has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
While Kyle originally pleaded not guilty in December to the murders of the three women—an inquest obtained by The Guardian last summer confirmed Hannah and Louise died of crossbow wounds, while Carol died from stab wounds to her chest and abdomen—the BBC reports that in a virtual court appearance Jan. 22, Kyle has pleaded guilty to their murders as well as to false imprisonment and possession of an offensive weapon.
He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping Louise, his ex-girlfriend, for which he will stand trial later this year, per the BBC.
On July 9, 2024, police were called to the Hunt family home after Hannah was able to place a call to law enforcement, informing them she, her sister and her mother had been shot and supplying her address before the call cut out, per The Guardian.
Hannah was reportedly found alive by law enforcement upon arrival before later succumbing to her injuries.
The attack led to a manhunt for Kyle, 26, who was detained two days later having been found seriously injured in a local cemetery. According to the BBC, Kyle—who had served in the military for three years starting in 2019—had shot himself with a crossbow and received treatment after being found for his injuries.
At the time of the attack, police shared in a press conference they believed the attack to be a “targeted incident” given Kyle’s connection to Louise.
Following the tragic murders, John and his remaining daughter Amy Hunt shared a message with the public through John’s colleagues at the BBC.
“We would like to thank people for their kind messages and for the support we have received in recent days," the BBC shared on behalf of the father-daughter pair July 13. "These have provided great comfort to us for which we are very grateful."
John also shared an additional message through fellow racing commentator and friend Matt Chapman, expressing his admiration for Amy’s resilience in the face of their unimaginable tragedy.
"Amy, my eldest daughter, has been magnificently inspirational with her control and support for me, which I am trying so hard to replicate,” John, through Matt, said that same day. “Notwithstanding the horrid evil that's swept through our lives, wreaking devastation on an unimaginable scale, the counter to that has been the breathtaking messages of support, some of which are still to be read.”