William Balfour, Jennifer Hudson
William Balfour, the former brother-in-law of Grammy and Oscar-winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, was found guilty of killing the singer’s mother, brother and nephew. The verdict was announced today (May 11) in a Chicago courtroom after three days of deliberation.
Along with the three counts of 1st degree murder of Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King, Balfour was also convicted of aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle according to CNN. He faces life in prison.
Although there was no DNA evidence connecting him to the crimes, his defense team argued, circumstantial evidence mounted. Prosecutors painted the picture of Balfour as a jealous ex-husband who, according to witnesses who testified during the trial, threatened to kill his ex-wife, Julia Hudson, and her family.
The bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother were discovered at their Chicago home on October 24, 2008. After an exhaustive search, 7-year-old Julian was found dead in an abandoned car three days later.
