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Apr 25, 2012 · UPDATED: 4/25/2011 - 5:38 p.m. CHICAGO (CBS) -- More graphic photos took center stage on Wednesday at the third day of trial for the man charged with killing three members of Jennifer...
Feb 19, 2016 · William Balfour is serving life in prison for murdering three members of actress-singer Jennifer Hudson's family in Chicago in 2008. Now, Balfour is speaking publicly for the first time.
- 6 min
- Chuck Goudie
Apr 23, 2012 · Before prosecutors projected dozens of photographs of her mother sprawled on a living room floor in a blood-soaked, white nightgown and her brother shot through the head on his bed, the...
- Julia's Estranged Husband Questioned
- Brother-In-Law Arrested
- 'I'm Going to Kill Your Family'
- Jury Selection
- The Trial
- 'We Didn't Like How He Treated Her'
- No DNA, But Gunshot Residue
- Guilty
- Sentencing
- Grateful For Support
William Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, was taken into custody the day the first two bodies were found and held for 48 hours. He was then taken into custody by the Illinois Department of Corrections on a suspected parole violation. Balfour married Julia Hudson in 2006 but had been separated at the time of the shootings. He was throw...
Balfour was arrested at Stateville Correctional Center where he was being held on parole violationcharges. Prosecutors believed that the shootings at the Hudson family home were the result of an argument Balfour had with Julia about another man. Investigators learned that Balfour tried to get a former girlfriend, Brittany Acoff-Howard, to provide h...
According to court records, Balfour threatened to kill members of Hudson's family on at least two dozen occasions before the three murders in October 2008. Assistant State's Attorney James McKay said the threats began shortly after Balfour and his wife Julia Hudson broke up and he moved out of the family house. McKay said Balfour told Julia, "If yo...
After answering questionsabout their knowledge of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, 12 jurors and six alternates were chosen for the trial. Potential jurors in the trial were given questionnaires which asked if they were familiar with Hudson's career, if they regularly watched "American Idol," and even if they were members of Weight Watchers, a w...
During opening statements, Balfour's defense attorney told jurors that police targeted him for the crime because they were under pressure to solve quickly what they knew would become a high-profile case, because of Jennifer Hudson's notoriety. Defense attorney Amy Thompson also told the jury that DNA found on the gun and fingerprints found in the S...
"None of us wanted her to marry him [Balfour]," Jennifer Hudson told the jury, "We did not like how he treated her." Jennifer Hudson's sister Julia testified that Balfour was so jealous that he would even become angry when her son Julian kissed his mother. He would tell the 7-year-old, "Get off my wife," she testified. Brittany Acoff Howard testifi...
Illinois State Police evidence analyst Robert Berk told jurors that gunshot residue was found on the steering wheel of Balfour's vehicle and the ceiling of the Suburban. His testimony followed that of another analyst, Pauline Gordon, who said no traces of Balfour's DNA were found on the murder weapon, but that did not mean he never handled the gun....
The jury deliberated 18 hours before finding Balfour guilty on three counts of murderand several other charges in connection with the October 24, 2008, deaths Darnell Donerson; Jason Hudson; and her 7-year-old nephew Julian King. After the verdict, jury members described the process they used during their almost 18 hours of deliberations. First, th...
Before he was sentenced, Balfour was allowed to make a statement. In it, he offered condolences to the Hudson family but maintained his innocence. "My deepest prayers go out to Julian King," Balfour said. "I loved him. I still love him. I'm innocent your honor." Under Illinois law, Balfour faced mandatory life without parole sentences for the multi...
Grammy and Academy Award-winning Hudson sobbed and leaned on her fiance's shoulder as the jury verdict was read. She attended every day of the 11-day trial. In a statement, Jennifer and her sister Julia offered their gratitude: They said they were praying "that the Lord will forgive Mr. Balfour of these heinous acts and bring his heart into repenta...
- Charles Montaldo
Nov 10, 2008 · Tribune photo by Scott Strazzante. The scene of Hudson family murders is quiet on the evening of the day that William Balfour was taken into custody after being served an arrest warrant in deaths ...
Apr 25, 2012 · Before prosecutors projected dozens of photographs of her mother sprawled on a living room floor in a blood-soaked, white nightgown and her brother shot through the head on his bed, the 30-year-old singer and actress left the room to avoid having to watch the disturbing images.
