John Hunt and Daughter Amy Break Silence on Family Tragedy in Powerful Interview
In a deeply moving and rare public appearance, Winter Olympics and racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy have spoken out about the devastating loss of their family members in a brutal crossbow attack. The emotional interview forms part of a new documentary series titled Ross Kemp: Lost Boys, Deadly Men, which premieres next month on Crime+Investigation.
A Family Shattered by Violence
The tragic events unfolded in July 2024 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, when Kyle Clifford murdered 61-year-old Carol Hunt, sexually assaulted his ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, and then used a crossbow to kill both Louise and her sister Hannah, 28. The attacks occurred within the family home, leaving John and Amy to grapple with unimaginable grief.
John Hunt, who has provided commentary for the Winter Olympics, expressed his profound concern about the broader issue of male violence against women. "There will be another girl, there will be another woman, at the hands of a young boy or man. That will happen," he stated with heartbreaking certainty.
Calling for Understanding and Change
Both John and Amy emphasized the urgent need for society to better understand why young men can spiral into such extreme violence. "We just hope any young man watching doesn't feel like we're piling on them," John said. "Our boys are to be cherished and boys, we are completely with you. It's certainly too late for people like Kyle Clifford but it's the kids who are not yet at school that we've got to be thinking about."
Amy Hunt described feeling a "desire to speak about this avoidable harm that happened to my mum and sisters" as almost a duty owed to her family. She made a clear distinction between good men and those who commit violence, stating: "I think if you're a good man and you try your best and you're respectful, we're not talking to you and I hope you know that. Being a bad man is a problem and doing bad things to women because you're angry or frustrated or you're in pain, is a problem."
Examining the Roots of Male Violence
The documentary series, presented by former EastEnders star Ross Kemp, explores five murder cases across the UK to investigate why young boys transform into deadly men. The 61-year-old actor examines issues affecting boys and young men in Britain, including:
- Mental health struggles
- Confusion around masculinity
- Fear of rejection
- Debilitating confidence problems
Following the 2024 murders, attention focused on the influence of online "manosphere" content after it was revealed Clifford had watched videos by controversial influencer Andrew Tate before his attack. However, Amy believes it's too simplistic to blame such figures alone.
"Taking the life of someone is weakness and it comes from an inability to confront your own pain because that's what Kyle Clifford did," she explained. "My family did nothing to warrant the harm he caused them. He was feeling pain, he took it out on women he considered to be less than him, I believe, and that's the end of it. And that's not being a man, that's the complete opposite of being a man."
Remembering Lives, Not Just Statistics
John and Amy are determined that Carol, Louise, and Hannah should not be remembered merely as tragic statistics. They shared heartfelt memories of their family life before the attack.
"My mum and sisters were all about fun, they were about hard work, enjoying themselves, indulging in their passions, making fun of each other," Amy recalled. "They were about all the things that build a beautiful life, that's what they did and what they had."
John added: "There was the most glorious rhythm to all the chaos, it was a busy household from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. There was a lovely flow to the whole thing. They continue to be a bright light in all of our family and extended friendship group. They still shine very brightly and they will forever."
A Message of Hope and Action
When asked how she wants her mother and sisters to be remembered, Amy offered a powerful response: "If you think of my mum and sisters, I'd ask you to be motivated and encouraged to tackle and address the issues of male violence that took their lives from them. But I'd also ask you to embrace the joy in your lives in their honour. I'd ask you to have fun in their honour, I'd ask you to live as they did, as a way of remembering them."
Ross Kemp, who has covered numerous challenging subjects including conflict and gang-related crime, admitted he felt apprehensive about examining the increase in male violence toward women. He praised the courage shown by John and Amy, noting that raising awareness might help others recognize warning signs before tragedy strikes.
"They are incredibly brave, very honest, and I don't think I'd be able to conduct myself in such an enlightened way if I was in their position," Kemp commented. "It's important to them to keep the memory of Carol, Louise and Hannah alive. They do not want their loved ones to be remembered as victims of Kyle Clifford and they're not, as far as I'm concerned."
The documentary series aims to move beyond sensational headlines about the "crossbow killer" and Andrew Tate videos to explore deeper questions about why such violence occurs. "What were the reasons? What was going on in his head? Where was he mentally?" Kemp asked about Clifford. "He had great issues with rejection, but he was also trying to date other girls at the time, so why did he do it? Only Clifford could answer that question."
John and Amy Hunt's courageous decision to share their story represents both a tribute to their lost family members and a call to action for society to address the systemic issues that enable such tragedies to occur.
