Jennifer Hudson’s Ex-Brother-in-Law Found Guilty of Family Murders
Guilty. That’s the verdict handed down in the Jennifer Hudson family murders case. The singer’s former brother-in-law William Balfour was found guilty today (May 11) of three counts of first-degree murder and four other counts in relation to the 2008 murders of Hudson’s mother, brother and her nephew, who was just 7 and the youngest victim of the tragedy.
Hudson was in the courtroom with both her sister Julia (and mother of her slain nephew Julian) and her fiancé David Otunga. The singer was reduced to tears upon hearing the verdict.
The case and its outcome were touch and go for a while, as the lack of forensic evidence was expected to cast some doubt on Balfour’s guilt. When there’s doubt, there’s often a not guilty verdict, since reasonable doubt governs most of the justice system when it comes to trials.
The jurors let the judge know that they were split and requested testimony for review. Upon receiving the information, they quickly reached a verdict.
It must be especially vindicating for Hudson, not only because three members of her immediate family lost their lives, which is tragic enough. It is speculated that had she been home, she would have been murdered, as well.
Balfour was found guilty of an assortment of additional charges, including aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.
CNN reports that Balfour is staring down life without parole. His public defender Amy Thompson plans to file a motion for a new trial and a notice of appeal. She stated, “I do feel there were very strong issues of law in this case that need to be looked at by an appellate court. So we do have some hope.”
Prosecutors said that the circumstantial facts of “drowned” Balfour in guilt. He had threatened to kill Julia Hudson’s family, telling her “If you leave me I’ll kill you. I’ll kill your family first. You’ll be the last to die,” according to the prosecution.
That was obviously enough for the jury to hand down the guilty verdict.