Life Sentence In Jennifer Hudson Family Slaying

Jennifer Hudson will finally see justice done for her family, as William Balfour — the man who killed her mother, brother and nephew — was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole Tuesday. According to the Chicago Tribune, Hudson was in the courtroom for Balfour’s sentencing, and was the first witness called by prosecutors in the two-week trial.

Cook County judge Charles Burns not only sentenced Balfour to three consecutive life sentences, but also imposed another sentence of 120 years for home invasion and aggravated kidnapping, both of which are felonies. Burns also denied Balfour’s request for a new trial.

Burns looked Balfour in the eyes and told him,

“You have the heart of an arctic night. Your soul is as barren as dark space.”

Prior to his sentencing William Balfour, who was married to Jennifer Hudson’s sister Julia, made a statement to the family,

“My condolences go out to the family. My deepest sympathies go to Julian King. I loved him. I still love him.”

Judge Burns then told Balfour,

“The fact that you can stand in court and tell us you love that child is an insult to all of us. There’s no doubt in my mind he looked up to you as you were putting bullets into his head. I just hope his terror was short-lived.”

Julian King was only 7-years-old when he was kidnapped and murdered in October 2008. His mother Julia Hudson and father Gregory King were also in the courtroom during the sentencing hearing, but Balfour refused to look at either of them during the trial.

Jennifer and Julia Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother Jason Hudson, 29, were also murdered by Balfour in the family’s home on Chicago’s South Side. Prosecutors contended that William Balfour shot the three when he found out that his estranged wife was dating another man.

Gregory King told the judge he felt like his heart was ripped out when he found out his son was dead. King said,

“I miss picking Julian up from the school bus. I miss going on field trips with him … I miss him spending the night with me and my other children.”

Neither Julia nor Jennifer Hudson gave a victim impact statement at the Balfour’s sentencing hearing.