Three and a half years after the horrendous murders of Jennifer Hudson’s 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, the man charged with the first-degree slayings, William Balfour, has finally been scheduled to stand trial.
According to E! News, Cook County Judge Charles Burns announced Thursday that jury selection for Balfour’s trial would begin on April 9. Testimony in the trial is expected to begin on April 23.
Balfour is the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister, Julia Hudson. Prosecutors allege that on October 24, 2008, Balfour, using a gun he stole from Jason Hudson, shot the three in a jealous rage because he was angry that Julia Hudson had been dating another man. He is accused of shooting Donerson and Jason Hudson in their South Side Chicago home, and then grabbing the boy and shooting him inside Jason Hudson’s SUV. The boy’s body was found three days later in Balfour’s SUV on the city’s West Side.
In 2008, Balfour’s attorney at the time said that there was no fingerprint, blood or other forensic evidence linking Balfour to the slayings. But prosecutors have said there is evidence linking Balfour to the slayings of the Oscar winner’s family members, including gunshot residue on the steering wheel of his car. They also have said detectives have disproven some statements Balfour made to them.
Balfour has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion as a result of the slayings. He pleaded not guilty.
Balfour’s trial has repeatedly been delayed on the request of his lawyers. His legal team requested another postponement yesterday, however, the judge rejected the request for more time to prepare their case and scheduled the trial’s start date.
