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According
to prosecutors during a court hearing on Wednesday, actress and singer
Jennifer Hudson’s family was murdered because her estranged
brother-in-law, William Balfour, believed Hudson’s sister, Julia,
was cheating on him. During the hearing, Balfour was read three counts
of first-degree murder in the deaths of Hudson’s mother, brother
and young nephew. Balfour is also being charged with home invasion.
The
prosecution claims that 27-year-old Balfour told Julia that if she ever
had an affair, “her family would suffer.” The day before
the incident was Julia’s birthday, and according to the
prosecution, Balfour grew angry with her after finding a present that
he believed to be from another man.
While
Balfour’s defense team is calling him a “victim of
circumstance,” the prosecution says that on the morning of
October 24, Balfour first shot Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson,
57, in their family’s living room. Next, Balfour shot
Hudson’s brother Jason, 27, while he was still in bed. Balfour
then forced 7-year-old Julian King into a white Suburban SUV and later
killed him with one gunshot to the head.
Judge Raymond Myles rejected William Balfour’s request for bail
on Wednesday and scheduled his next court date for December 30.–gavin philip godfrey
