John Hunt family latest: Crossbow recovered and suspect Kyle Clifford remains in hospital in serious condition

Messages were left on floral tributes in the road in Bushey where Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of BBC Five Live racing commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were killed in a suspected crossbow attack at their home.

Deadly crossbows can be easily bought online for as little as £50, writes Jabed Ahmed:

Newmarket fell silent for a minute before the opening day of the July Festival as racing showed its support for commentator John Hunt.

His media colleagues and friends joined members of the weighing room in the paddock to pay their respects.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “I’d just like to say also that all of our thoughts are with John Hunt, it was a very sad day yesterday.

“All of our thoughts, in racing and of Godolphin, are with John at this time.”

Jockeys at the fixture sported black armbands, and jockey Oisin Murphy added: “We had a minute’s silence before the first race. To John Hunt and all his family and friends, I am really very sorry for what happened and we’re all thinking about you.”

A childhood friend of Carol Hunt, who was one of three women killed in a crossbow attack in Bushey on Wednesday, has described her as a “beautiful person”.

Lea Holloway, 60, said she had known Mrs Hunt since she was 16.

Speaking outside St James’ Church on Thursday after a vigil for Mrs Hunt and her daughters, she said: “We grew up together and were pregnant at the same time. This is the stuff nightmares are made of.

“I was there the night she met John. It was in a nightclub in Hemel Hempstead. We went out together, went to birthdays and events.

“It’s very difficult. She was the nicest, kindest, sweetest person you could ever meet. A beautiful person.”

Suspect Kyle Clifford served briefly in the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

According to the Mail Online, he served in the Queen’s Dragoon Guards for a short time before dropping out.

The British Army website states that the regiment has specialised in reconnaissance since its formation in 1685.

Colleagues of Hannah Hunt at the Anti-Ageing Clinic in Radlett, Hertfordshire, said it was with “deep regret and sadness” that they learnt of the “horrific” murder of their skin therapist Hannah.

The Facebook post added: “She was a fantastic therapist and clients loved her.

“We send our condolences and prayers to her Dad, sister and family.

“She was very much a part of our team. Please bear with us at this terrible time.”

The final tweet shared on Louise Hunt’s X account praised “women who leave”.

A misogynistic culture at the root of violence against women and girls must be addressed, a domestic abuse charity has said, in the wake of the crossbow killings of a mother and two of her daughters.

Refuge said while it welcomed the government’s urgent consideration of whether tougher crossbow laws were needed, the danger from such crimes stemmed from the perpetrator rather than the tools they used.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition echoed this, warning that “quick-fix” measures such as banning a weapon would not stop men intent on harming women.

Triple-murder suspect Kyle Clifford is understood to have been the ex-partner of Louise Hunt.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the most common suspect for female homicide victims aged 16 and above was their partner or ex-partner. The statistics, using the term homicide to cover manslaughter as well as murder, showed that in the year ending March 2023 in England and Wales, almost half (45%) of all adult female homicide victims were killed in a domestic incident.

Earlier this year The Independent revealed at least 350 women had been killed by a man since the murder of Sarah Everard – the equivalent of one woman dying every three days.