The emotionally grueling two-week ordeal of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson and her family came to an end this afternoon when a jury convicted William Balfour of murdering Hudson’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in 2008.
The jury deliberated for 18 hours over three days to reach the verdict, which the jury members said was in doubt when they were split 9-3. But after they had Balfour’s cellphone records re-explained, showing the holes in his alibi because he couldn’t be in two places at once, they came back with three counts of murder. Balfour went on a murderous tirade because he believed his estranged wife Julia Hudson, Jennifer’s older sister, was dating another man.
Jennifer, sitting between sister Julia and her fiancé—pro wrestler David Otunga—cried and held Otunga’s hand as the verdict was read. The family left out of the view of the media but Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said Hudson was “emotional, but relieved.”
