William Balfour Sentenced to 3 Life Terms 

The man convicted of killing three of Jennifer Hudson’s family members has just been sentenced. William Balfour, 31, will serve three consecutive life sentences for the 2008 murders of Hudson’s 57-year-old mother, 29-year-old brother and 7-year-old nephew. Balfour was found guilty in May of three counts of first-degree murder as well as aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Cook County Judge Charles Burns said Balfour’s soul was as “barren as dark space” before he handed down today’s harsh sentences. The judge also gave Balfour an additional 120 years in prison for the other crimes. Before today’s sentencing, defense attorneys made a desperate bid to have a new trial, claiming that Hudson’s stardom had a “prejudicial effect” on the jury. The judge of course denied those claims and the bid was rejected. –danielle canada