The daughter of a BBC commentator had been tied to a chair in an incident in which she and her sister shot with a crossbow and their mother stabbed, a court has heard.

Kyle Clifford was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice this afternoon (September 17) after the incident in Bushey on July 9.

He has been charged with three counts of murder, false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons – namely a crossbow and a 10-inch butcher’s knife.

Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were found fatally injured at the family home in Ashlyn Close.

The court heard that Louise had been found tied to a chair when officers attended the property.

Louise and Hannah Hunt had been shot with a crossbow and their mother Carol had been stabbed with a knife and suffered multiple injuries, the court was told.

The court heard Hannah called the police and told them she feared she was going to die as she had been shot along with her sister and mother.

The Chief Magistrate, district judge Paul Goldspring, remanded Clifford in custody ahead of a hearing at the High Court this afternoon.

The judge said the charges of murder and false imprisonment are “matters which can only be heard at the crown court” and that the charges of weapon possession are “related”.

He continued: “I do not have the power to consider bail in this court.

“I therefore send your case to the Central Criminal Court sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice where you will appear later today.

“You will be remanded in custody.”

The final charge faced is of false imprisonment, which alleges Clifford “assaulted and unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned Louise Hunt and detained her against her will”.

Police were previously unable to speak to the suspect while he received treatment for an injury in hospital.

Clifford, of Rendlesham Road, Enfield, has been under arrest since July 10, Hertfordshire Constabulary said.

Mr Hunt and his third daughter Amy previously issued a statement following the incident, which said: “The devastation we are experiencing cannot be put into words.”

Reprting by PA.