Kyle Clifford, a man with a troubling history, was found guilty of raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, with a crossbow at her family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year. Clifford's actions did not stop there; he also took the lives of Louise's sister, Hannah, and their mother, Carol, in a brutal and premeditated attack. This heinous crime came on the heels of Clifford consuming content from controversial influencer Andrew Tate, raising questions about the impact of such material on vulnerable individuals.
The court heard that one of the central reasons for the fallout between Clifford and Louise was his penchant for sharing disturbing videos from Tate, including one that depicted animals being harmed. Clifford found the video amusing, further alienating himself from Louise and her friends. In the days leading up to the murder, Clifford watched up to ten videos of Tate, whose misogynistic views have been widely criticized.
“The fact is that on any sensible view, Andrew Tate, back in 2024 and now, was a widely known misogynist, and that is what the defendant is searching for less than 24 hours before he will try to get into the Hunt family home. He was searching for the Andrew Tate podcast.” – Prosecutor
Clifford's internet activity painted a chilling picture of his mindset before committing the crime. He immersed himself in misogynistic podcasts and other disturbing content, including pornography that depicted sexualized violence. According to the prosecution, this material demonstrated Clifford's perception of women and his inclination towards violent behavior.
“The prosecution suggest the sort of violent misogyny promoted by Tate is the same type of motivation that, on their case, fuelled both the murders and the rape.” – Prosecutor
Clifford's past further compounded his dark inclinations. He had previously faced allegations of inappropriate conduct and had a history of violent behavior dating back to his teenage years. His criminal record included arrests for possession of cannabis, assault without injury, and theft. Additionally, Clifford engaged in relationships with two women at work behind Louise's back, illustrating his disregard for her feelings.
In a previous hearing, Clifford admitted to the murders but denied the charge of rape. The judge ruled that the jury would not be exposed to evidence regarding Clifford's interest in Andrew Tate, considering it "deeply prejudicial" to the rape trial.
“The defence submit this material has too vague a link and it [is] far too prejudicial.” – Defense
This case has reignited debates about the influence of online content, particularly that which promotes misogyny and violence. Four British women who are suing Andrew Tate have called for social media companies to remove him from their platforms.
“Hearing that Kyle Clifford watched videos of Andrew Tate in the lead up to his murders of his ex-girlfriend, her mother and sister, is deeply upsetting to us, but sadly not surprising.” – Four British women suing Tate
“This should be a wake-up call for all the social media companies who are continuing to platform Tate and his dangerous messages.” – Four British women suing Tate
“These companies should take immediate steps to remove Andrew Tate from their platforms, rather than continue to reap enormous profits from his hateful content.” – Four British women suing Tate
“Clifford’s case should be a warning to world leaders and all those who belittle the seriousness of allowing incitement of violence against women online to fester.” – Four British women suing Tate
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner described Clifford as someone who struggled to cope with personal setbacks and rejected any notion of rejection from women. Despite having affairs behind Louise's back, he could not accept her decision to break up with him.
“He’s unable to deal with his breakup, lost a number of jobs, doesn’t come across as a highly intelligent or motivated individual in any way.” – DCI Nick Gardner
“It was almost [as though] he felt he couldn’t deal with the idea of the personal affront to him, which seems strange when he was happy to carry out relationships behind Louise’s back.” – DCI Nick Gardner
“It’s difficult to kind of comprehend [how] he just went to the most extreme levels of violence.” – DCI Nick Gardner
The case has drawn attention due in part to Kyle Clifford's brother, Bradley Clifford, who is serving life in prison for a separate murder committed during a road rage incident. The tragic circumstances surrounding the Clifford family have sparked discussions about familial patterns of violence.
Judge Mr. Justice Bennathan commented on Clifford’s interest in Andrew Tate's content as a potential indicator of misogynistic tendencies.
“He may well be that one who takes a close interest in Tate, other than law enforcement officials, could be seen as a misogynist.” – Judge Mr. Justice Bennathan