Balfour Found Guilty in Jennifer Hudson Case

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Music, Legal Issues,

A jury has found Jennifer Hudson's former brother-in-law William Balfour guilty of murdering her mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew.

Balfour, 31, was found guilty of three counts of murder and four other counts related to the 2008 killings and he now faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. He had pleaded not guilty to shooting to death the singer's mother Darnell Donerson, 57, her brother Jason Hudson, 29, and her seven-year-old nephew Julian King on October 24, 2008, as well as home invasion, residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle related to the killings. His attorney argued there was no forensic evidence linking him to the murders.

The panel took 18 hours deliberating on the case after it went to the jury yesterday at Cook County Court in Chicago, before finding Balfour guilty of triple murder. The actress - who attended every day of the testimony - arrived at court shortly after it was revealed that the jury had reached a verdict.

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Hudson Murder Trial: 911 Call Made Public

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Music, Legal Issues,

The 911 call made by Jennifer Hudson's sister upon finding the body of their mother, has been released.

William Balfour is currently on trial for the murder of Jennifer's mother Darnell, brother Jason and nephew Julian, seven and the call made by Julia Hudson when she found their mother dead was made public yesterday despite the pleases of the prosecution not to do so.

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Jennifer Hudson Leaves Court to Avoid Nephew Photos

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Music, Legal Issues,

Jennifer Hudson walked out of court yesterday to avoid seeing photos of her murdered nephew.

The Oscar-winning-actress - who has been at the Cook County courtroom in Chicago since Monday observing the trial of William Balfour - left the room when a retired chief medical examiner showed the gunshot wounds suffered by seven-year-old Julian King. However, her fiance David Ortunga stayed behind to take extensive notes.

Julian was found dead in a car three days after police discovered the body of Jennifer's mother Darnell and brother Jason were discovered in their Chicago home. As the images of Julian were discussed in court, William was passed a tissue and he was seen dabbing his eyes. When the testimony ended, Jennifer returned to the room.

Prosecutors allege William flew into a jealous rage after he thought another man had given Julia a gift of balloons which he saw. Balfour is charged with first degree murder in their deaths in addition to home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, residential burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial is expected to last for approximately four weeks.

Jennifer Hudson Attends Trial of William Balfour

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Music, Legal Issues,

Jennifer Hudson did not hear the opening statements at the trial of the man accused of killing her mother, brother and nephew. The Oscar-winning actress and singer attended the first day of the trial of William Balfour at the Cook County courtroom in Chicago today, but did not listen to the statement, court spokesperson Terry Sullivan confirmed. Her partner David Otunga, however, sat in the fourth row to hear the case.

Balfour is charged with three counts of first-degree murder relating to the 2008 killings, with prosecutors claiming a gift of balloons sent to Jennifer's sister Julia Hudson threw him into a jealous rage, causing him to use a .45 caliber handgun to kill 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, 29-year-old Jason Hudson and Julia's son Julian King, whose body was found three days later. There are no known witnesses to the killing, and despite prosecutors claiming physical evidence of gunshot residue found on the wheel of his SUV, defense says it is circumstantial.

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