British investigation: One of three women killed in crossbow attack at home managed to call for help via text message

LONDON (AP) — One of three women killed in their family home north of London earlier this month was still alive when police arrived, but with a crossbow bolt lodged in her chest, an inquest heard Tuesday.

After a ten-minute hearing, coroner Geoffrey Sullivan adjourned the inquest at Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court in Hatfield to allow any criminal proceedings to continue.

The women were the wife and two of three daughters of John Hunt, a well-known horse racing commentator on BBC 5 Live, the corporation’s news and sports radio station.

The inquest heard that 61-year-old Carol Hunt died of stab wounds to the chest and abdomen, while 28-year-old Hannah and 25-year-old Louise died of injuries caused by crossbow bolts on July 9.

It has been revealed that Hannah Hunt managed to send an unnamed person a text message asking for help, saying she had been “tied up” in the family home in the quiet residential area of ​​Bushey, northeast of the capital.

In the text message, she had asked the person to call the police and say that the attacker was still in the house. She was then able to call the police herself and report that she had been shot, as had her sister and mother. She was able to give her address before the call ended.

When the police arrived, they found Hannah still alive in the main entrance of the house.

After arriving at the scene, police launched a manhunt and found the main suspect, 26-year-old Kyle Clifford, a day later in a cemetery a few kilometers east of the attack.

Officers who found Clifford found a crossbow and took him away on a stretcher with unknown injuries. Police said no shots were fired.

Due to his injuries, the police have not yet been able to question Clifford.

Clifford’s connection to the women was not officially disclosed, but British media reported that he was the ex-boyfriend of one of the sisters.

In the UK, you don’t need a licence to own a crossbow, but it is illegal to carry one in public without a valid reason. The government has said it will “expeditiously review” the results of a recent inquiry into whether controls on crossbow ownership should be tightened.

John Hunt’s voice is known to millions of people through his coverage of the world famous Grand National and The Derby. John Hunt was set to commentate on the swimming events currently taking place at the Olympic Games in Paris.