Former British army soldier charged with crossbow murder of BBC presenter's family

Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A British man was due in court in London on Tuesday charged with three counts of murder and possession of offensive weapons in connection with the crossbow killings of the wife and two daughters of a prominent BBC racing commentator in July.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said in a news release that detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit had charged Kyle Clifford, 26, of Enfield in north London, Monday night after doctors said Clifford, who had been hospitalized since the killings, was well enough to undergo interrogation.

"Over the past couple of months, we have been working hard to gather as much evidence as possible and establish the full circumstances of what happened that day. We have now managed to secure charges against Kyle Clifford in connection with the murders of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt," said Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner.

"Although it has taken some time to reach this stage, we can now move forward with the judicial process and seek justice for their family. Our thoughts remain with the Hunt family and their loved ones as they continue to come to terms with their loss."

Police launched a manhunt for Clifford after racing journalist John Hunt's wife, Carol Hunt, 61, and daughters Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, were found fatally injured in the family home in a quiet suburban street in Bushey, 15 miles north of London on July 9.

Police said the attack had been carried out with a crossbow although other weapons may also have been used.

Clifford was arrested the following day in a cemetery in Lavender Hill in north London after a massive police operation that saw schools in the area shuttered.

Crossbow ownership is not subject to any state controls in Britain, but by law they cannot be carried in public without reasonable cause.

Sources told British media that Clifford served about a year in the British Army several years ago but had been working as a private security guard until a few months prior to the alleged offenses.