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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Balfour's mom is saying that the reason he looks like he does in the picture below is because the police made him take his hair down to check for gun powder residue. She is giving interviews to local news media stating police checked his hands and hair for gun powder residue and found none. Hopefully we will learn more about the evidence during the bond hearing at noon tomorrow.
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Dec/2/08, 4:44 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Video interview of William Balfour's mother link provided below courtesy of NBC5 Chicago News. Scroll down to bottom of page to view video.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Jennifer-Hudsons-Estranged-In-Law-Charged-With-Murder.html
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Dec/2/08, 4:57 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Latest update on William Balfour's bond hearing today. Police have cited an alleged motive. Excerpt and link provided below.
No bail in Jennifer Hudson family murder case
December 3, 2008 at 2:12 PM | Comments (0)
Despite his attorney's assertion that the case against his client was circumstantial and based on unreliable witnesses, bail was denied today for the estranged brother-in-law of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson who has been charged with killing three members of her family.
William Balfour, 27, was charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion.
Joshua Kutnick, Balfour's defense attorney, also told Judge Raymond Myles today that there were no witnesses to the slayings and no connection between Balfour and the weapon that was believed to have been used in the shootings.
"Thus far it is my impression and William's impression that he has been painted as guilty in this case," Kutnick said. "And that is untrue and unfortunate. We implore the public to keep an open mind."
At the hearing, prosecutors outlined a case that is in large measure circumstantial, including the previously undisclosed fact that gunshot residue was found on the steering wheel of Balfour's car, which, authorities said, he had driven that morning to the Hudson home and later moved after the murders.
In addition, prosecutors refuted a number of statements that Balfour made to police, among them:
--Balfour told detectives that he was home at the time of the shootings, but cell phone records showed he was in the vicinity of the Hudson family home.
--Balfour told police that after he had earlier been to the Hudson home to talk with his estranged wife, he had taken a CTA "L" train to his West Side home. But CTA card records show that Balfour had last used the card two days before. Also, Balfour had claimed to have used a particular "L" station, but surveillance cameras showed he had not been there.
--Balfour denied having a gun, but multiple witnesses said they saw him with one or heard him say he had one. The gun used in the slayings had belonged to Jason Hudson and Balfour had taken it without permission from Hudson's bedroom over the summer, prosecutors said.
New Cook County State's Atty. Anita Alvarez said prosecutors "approved charges on this case because we believe that we have enough evidence to support our burden."
Alvarez, who was sworn into office Tuesday, said authorities would continue to look for more evidence in the case.
Balfour had been the prime suspect in the case since the bodies of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were discovered in their Englewood home Oct. 24. Hudson's nephew, 7-year-old Julian King, was found days later, shot to death in an SUV.
Prosecutors said Balfour had come to the workplace of his estranged wife -- Julia Hudson, the actress' sister -- in early October to complain about her dating another man and threatened her family with harm if she continued to see him. He went to the house the day of the slayings to again warn her about the relationship, prosecutors said.
He and Julia Hudson left the house together, prosecutors said. She got into her car and drove off. He was walking toward his car when he was last seen by Julia Hudson, they said.
Balfour has denied being involved, but witnesses saw him in Jason Hudson's SUV and placed him at the family's home the day of the slayings, a source said. Balfour's girlfriend has told police he confessed and that she saw him with a gun that resembled the murder weapon, sources said.
Balfour's mother said he was not responsible for the slayings and his girlfriend made a deal with authorities. Chicago Police Supt. Weis on Tuesday emphatically denied police had made a deal.
-- Matthew Walberg
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/balfour-jennifer-hudson-bond-hearing-a-matter.html
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Dec/3/08, 3:03 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Excerpt and link to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell article on the case. My thoughts exactly Mary. Also, all Balfour needs now is reknowned attorney Kathleen Zellner to sign on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Evidence' appears to have holes in it
TOO FAMILIAR | Lack of forensics, 'confession' to girlfriend troubling
December 4, 2008
MARY MITCHELL marym@suntimes.com
There are a lot of ragged ends dangling from the Hudson murders.
Yet Chicago Police have arrested William Balfour -- who was recently imprisoned on a parole violation -- and charged him with the killings of three of Jennifer Hudson's family members.
» Click to enlarge image
Authorities have recovered a murder weapon in the Hudson slayings, but have not yet been able to link it the primary suspect, William Balfour.
(Courtesy)
RELATED STORIES
Did birthday present spark Hudson family murders?
Balfour held without bail in Hudson killings
On Wednesday, a Cook County Circuit Court judge ordered Balfour held without bail.
Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother Jason Hudson were found shot to death in their Englewood home Oct. 24.
The body of her nephew, 7-year-old Julian King, was found three days later in an SUV parked on the West Side. He, too, had been shot.
Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, was immediately eyed as a suspect because of the couple's stormy relationship.
The 27-year-old has denied committing this heinous crime.
Frankly, if only his mother and his attorney believe him to be innocent, that would be understandable.
But here's my concern:
Authorities have a murder weapon, but forensic tests have not linked the gun to Balfour.
This is a case that needs a smoking gun.
Police have a girlfriend who allegedly told police Balfour confessed and that she saw him with a gun similar to a .45-caliber Sig Sauer handgun, but the girlfriend has a misdemeanor drug case that could come back to undermine her credibility.
Police had two bloody crime scenes -- the Hudson home and the SUV -- but couldn't find any physical evidence that could be linked directly to Balfour.
Maybe I've been looking at too much "CSI," but I have to disagree with Police Supt. Jody Weis.
This doesn't sound like a strong case to me.
It sounds like the kind of case that gets overturned decades later because a witness recants.
According to Leonard L. Cavise, an expert on criminal law at DePaul University's College of Law, the "big three" causes of wrongful convictions are coerced confession, jailhouse snitch and mistaken identity.
"The police have to do absolutely everything possible to make sure they are not setting up the wrong guy," he said.
"This is the ultimate heater case. Police have got to make themselves an arrest because there is so much public pressure on this case."
Cavise is not as troubled as I am that the arrest is based on circumstantial evidence.
"Most cases are circumstantial," he said. "What police are supposed to do now is they are supposed to look for more evidence.
"What you want [police] to do is to look at all the evidence, whether it points to the defendant or not."
Which brings me back to the murder weapon.
Perhaps because of the sensitivity city officials have toward Chicago celebrities in these kinds of tragedies, police have glossed over a key component to this crime.
Apparently, Jason Hudson was entangled in the drug trade and had a drug conviction on his record.
In fact, according to sources in the neighborhood, at the time of the murders, Jason was walking around with a bullet in his leg from an altercation with other drug dealers in the area.
It's possible that the murders were the result of a drug deal gone bad rather than a domestic dispute.
But police officials appear to be hanging their case on the claim of Balfour's girlfriend that he confessed to her and asked her to provide an alibi.
The scenario sounds all too familiar.
In September, the Cook County state's attorney had to release the only suspect in the murders of Robert Soto, a veteran detective, and Kathryn Romberg, a supervisor for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
In that case, police claimed that Jason Austin allegedly told a friend he had shot a police officer and asked "several witnesses to provide false alibis for himself and two passengers."
The case fell apart when a mechanic told a private investigator that the car that police allege Austin used to flee the crime scene was in the shop at the time.
That time, I said it looked like sloppy police work was to blame.
And unfortunately, if the Hudson murders case falls apart, it will be another hard blow for Weis.
If that happens, I suspect some very big heads will roll.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/1313874,CST-NWS-mitch04.article
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Dec/4/08, 10:08 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
William Balfour's mom, Michele Davis-Balfour says her son is not a killer. Link provided below.
http://www.livesteez.com/videos/watch/Lqq6lkm
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Dec/6/08, 9:22 am
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
A toy drive has been set up for Jennifer Hudson's nephew Julian King. Check exerpt below for details.
CHICAGO
Toy drive held in memory of Hudson's slain nephew
A Chicago toy drive is being held in memory of Jennifer Hudson's slain 7-year-old nephew, Julian King. Donors can drop off unwrapped toys for boys or girls through Saturday at two locations: Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church, 4526 S. Greenwood, (773) 924-7236; or Christian Valley Baptist Church, 1237 S. Homan, (773) 762-4417.
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Dec/15/08, 1:13 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Balfour indicted in the Hudson murders today. Excerpt and link below.
Man charged in Hudson killings appears in court
CHICAGO (AP) — A murder indictment has been issued against the man accused of killing the mother, brother and nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson.
No new details are offered in Tuesday's indictment against 27-year-old William Balfour, who's facing first-degree murder and home invasion charges.
Balfour is the estranged husband of Hudson's sister. He has pleaded not guilty in the deaths of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, her brother, Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old Julian King.
At a brief hearing Tuesday, defense attorney Joshua Kutnick asked the judge if Balfour can be moved from a state prison to Cook County to make communicating with his counsel easier.
The judge put off ruling on that decision until a Jan. 20 court hearing.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIqSbmp7cCrnSvw1FIMxIvjQa8AQD95D7T500
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Dec/30/08, 4:24 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Updated info on Balfour's indictment. Excerpt and link courtesy of The Associated Press below.
Man charged in Hudson killings appears in court
By SOPHIA TAREEN – 30 minutes ago
CHICAGO (AP) — A murder indictment was issued Tuesday against the man charged with killing the mother, brother and nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson.
William Balfour had already been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, but a grand jury must indict a defendant before the case can go to trial, said Andy Conklin, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
No new details or charges were outlined in the indictment against Balfour, who faces first-degree murder and home invasion charges. The 27-year-old appeared briefly in court wearing a yellow prison jumpsuit and handcuffs but did not speak.
Defense attorney Joshua Kutnick asked the judge whether Balfour could be moved to the Cook County jail from a state facility in Joliet to make it easier to communicate with his client. The judge put off ruling on that decision until Jan. 20.
Balfour is the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, the sister of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. He has pleaded not guilty in the deaths of the entertainer's mother, Darnell Donerson; her brother, Jason Hudson; and her 7-year-old nephew and Balfour's stepson, Julian King.
Balfour has been in custody at the Stateville Correctional Center since shortly after the bodies of Donerson and Jason Hudson were discovered Oct. 24 at the family's South Side home. King's body was found three days later in an SUV on the city's West Side. All three had been shot.
Balfour was arrested the day of the killings and held in Chicago police custody for 48 hours — the longest a person can be held without charges — before his transfer to state custody on what authorities said was a parole violation. He was charged with murder earlier this month.
Tuesday's indictment was expected, Kutnick said. He said that hard evidence linking Balfour to the crimes does not exist and that he was conducting his own investigation.
"The police believe it is William Balfour, but the problem is what they have done. They find their suspect and build evidence around the suspect. That's not the way it should work. They should gather evidence and it should lead to a suspect," Kutnick said. "This was the convenient person to go to. It is bolstered by the fact that it took them so long to get him arrested and charged."
Balfour's mother, Michele Davis Balfour, who attended Tuesday's hearing with several family members, declined to comment.
Balfour has not had contact with the Hudson family, Kutnick said.
Members of the Hudson family did not attend the hearing. A publicist for Jennifer Hudson declined to comment. Both Julia and Jennifer Hudson have kept a low profile since the killings.
Jennifer Hudson, who was a finalist in the 2004 season of "American Idol," won her Oscar in 2007 for her supporting role in the movie "Dreamgirls."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIqSbmp7cCrnSvw1FIMxIvjQa8AQD95DA3H01
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Dec/30/08, 5:04 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Latest update on the Hudson Family murders. Excerpt and link below
Man pleads not guilty to Hudson family killings
CHICAGO – Jennifer Hudson's brother-in-law pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges he shot to death the Oscar-winning actress's mother and brother and the 7-year-old son of his estranged wife.
William Balfour, 27, entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder and home invasion charges after nodding to members of his family gathered in the last of three Cook County courtrooms he appeared in Tuesday.
Balfour is married to Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson. He is charged in the October deaths of the sisters' mother, Darnell Donerson, their brother, Jason Hudson, and Julia Hudson's 7-year-old son, Julian King.
Prosecutors allege Balfour shot the three in a jealous rage because he was upset Julia Hudson had been dating another man.
Prosecutors first asked that the case be reassigned to another judge, though they did not give a reason. Presiding Judge Paul P. Biebel Jr. then reassigned the case and Balfour entered his plea in the final courtroom.
Defense attorney Joshua Kutnick said he plans to ask at Balfour's next court appearance, set for Jan. 27, that Balfour be moved from a state prison in Joliet to Cook County Jail to make it easier to meet with him.
The bodies of Donerson and Jason Hudson were discovered Oct. 24 at the family's South Side home. King's body was found three days later in an SUV on the city's West Side.
Balfour was arrested shortly after the killings and held in Chicago police custody for 48 hours — the longest a person can be held without charges — before his transfer to state custody on what authorities said was a parole violation. He was charged with murder last month.
A publicist for Jennifer Hudson declined to comment Tuesday. She was a finalist in the 2004 season of "American Idol" and won her Oscar in 2007 for her supporting role in "Dreamgirls."
The 27-year-old singer and actress released her self-titled debut album in the fall but hasn't made public appearances since the killings.
Hudson is expected to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, and she is nominated for four awards at the Feb. 8 Grammy Awards.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_en_ot/chicago_bodies_hudson
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Jan/20/09, 5:48 pm
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Re: Jennifer Hudson's Mother and Brother found shot dead!
Latest update on the Hudson Family murders. Excerpt and link below.
Jan 27 2009 3:21 PM EST
William Balfour Appears In Court For Jennifer Hudson Family Murders
Judge approves moving suspect closer to his lawyer.
By Gil Kaufman
William Balfour, the suspect in the killings of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, appeared in court Tuesday (January 27).
Balfour, 27, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, has been locked up at the Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet, Illinois, since his December arrest in connection with the slayings. According to The Associated Press, his lawyer, Joshua Kutick, had asked the court to move Balfour to the Cook County Jail in order to make it easier to consult with his client. That motion was granted Tuesday, and Balfour will be transferred soon.
Following his indictment in December in the case, Balfour entered a "not guilty" plea last week, and his attorney has said that there is no forensic evidence linking his client to the killings. Tuesday's court date was the first time Balfour appeared before the new judge, Marjorie Laws, who was appointed to the trial last week after prosecutors asked that Judge Evelyn Clay be removed from the case, according to CNN. Prosecutors did not say why they asked for Clay to be taken off the trial.
Balfour was detained for questioning October 24, the day authorities found the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother shot to death in their home on Chicago's south side. The body of Hudson's 7-year-old nephew was found a short time later. Balfour was the boy's stepfather, and he's been charged with first-degree murder and home invasion in the case. No other suspects have been arrested in the case.
Hudson has been in seclusion since the murders but will make her first public appearance on Sunday when she sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl. The next date in the case is set for February 23.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603609/20090127/hudson__jennifer.jhtml
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Jan/27/09, 3:06 pm
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