Security footage shows moments before triple murders

Warning: This article contains details that some people may find distressing

Jurors have been given a glimpse into the final hours of a 25-year-old woman murdered by an ex-partner on the same day as her sister and mother.

A home security system captured dog groomer Louise Hunt working in the garden of the house she shared with her father, BBC racing commentator John Hunt, mother, Carol Hunt, and sister Hannah Hunt, in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

Kyle Clifford, 26, of Enfield, north London, has admitted stabbing Carol, 61, to death and shooting Louise and Hannah, 28, with a crossbow at their home on 9 July 2024.

But he denies raping Louise before killing her.

Footage was played to a jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, where Clifford is on trial for rape.

Jurors have been told Clifford killed Carol first, then Louise, followed by Hannah.

They were played clips of footage captured by the Hunts' home system.

One clip showed Clifford walk up to the front door and chat to Carol, before being let in.

A prosecution barrister said a scream could be heard seconds after the door closed.

Footage showed Louise walking in and out of a "pod" she used as a work base in the garden – unaware that Clifford was in the house.

She is shown carrying one dog and walking another before making her way into the house through a patio door.

Alison Morgan KC, who is leading the prosecution team, said evidence showed that Clifford had used Louise's phone to message Mr Hunt – about an hour before he murdered her.

Miss Morgan said Clifford had asked Mr Hunt if he would be late home from work.

Thinking it was from his daughter, Mr Hunt, who sat in the public gallery of the court with relatives, replied: "Late, I'm afraid. Everything OK sweetness?"

Jurors also saw footage of Hannah arriving home from work.

She was heard to say the name "Kyle" and utter an expletive shortly after entering the house.

Clifford was later seen leaving and climbing into a car.

Forensic scientist Martin Whittaker told the trial that Clifford's DNA was found in bodily fluid on Louise's body.

He said that evidence showed that she and Clifford had sex, but Miss Morgan told jurors that the DNA evidence showed that Louise had been raped by Clifford before being killed.

Clifford claimed the evidence was explained by consensual sex, which had taken place on 23 June, when he was in a relationship with Louise.

Mr Whittaker told jurors "any" chance of the type of fluid found remaining on a body for more than three days was "extremely small".

"Up to 48 hours there is a good chance," he told the trial. "48 hours to 72 hours, there is a chance, but it is a small chance.

"After 72 hours, it is an extremely small chance of even any (fluid)."

Mr Whittaker said the presence of the fluid could be explained if Louise had sex with Clifford on the day she died.

The trial continues.

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