Estranged relative charged in Hudson family deaths

[December 03, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Authorities believe the estranged brother-in-law of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson acted alone when he allegedly gunned down three of her family members more than a month ago in an apparent domestic dispute.

William Balfour, 27, was charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony home invasion. He was scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday afternoon.

Balfour had been in custody since Oct. 24, when the bodies of Hudson's mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered in their South Side home. The body of Julian King, Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, was found in a sport utility vehicle three days later.

All three had been shot to death. Police believe Julian was killed inside the SUV the same day as the adults, but "the exact timing" has not been determined, said Deputy Superintendent Steve Peterson.

Until the arrest in the murder case Monday, police had publicly identified Balfour -- the boy's stepfather and the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's older sister, Julia Hudson -- only as a "person of interest."

Joshua Kutnick, Balfour's attorney, said his client is insistent about his innocence. Still, added Kutnick, "He's exhibited to me, at least, the patience to let the process unfold."

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said Tuesday that Balfour has not confessed to the crimes but he is "confident in the evidence," which both he and Peterson declined to detail.

Peterson did suggest that police are not looking for any other suspects and that they think Balfour acted alone. "At this time it doesn't appear that anyone else was involved," he said.

Despite a lack of details, authorities' comments suggested confidence about the case. And they said the Hudson family was "happy" with Balfour's arrest.

"They were relieved and happy that the Chicago Police Department would bring this case to a successful conclusion," Peterson said.

Weis also praised the community for the way it "stepped up to the plate and helped police solve this case," but he would not provide any details.

Balfour had served seven years for a 1999 attempted murder and vehicular hijacking conviction, and was on parole at the time he was taken into custody.

Last month, he was ordered held in prison after a hearing officer determined there was probable cause that Balfour had violated his parole and should remain locked up pending another hearing before a review board panel. That hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

Jennifer Hudson was a finalist in the 2004 season of "American Idol" and won her Oscar in 2007 for her film debut, a supporting role in "Dreamgirls." She has mostly stayed out of the spotlight and close to her family since the killings.

[Associated Press; By DON BABWIN]

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