The Jennifer Hudson Family Murders Trial Update (Weekly Re-Cap) The People Vs. William Balfour

April 29, 2012 By Ladyglen CHICAGO - On Day 3 of the trial, April 25, 2012, the state opened by calling LuAnn Snow of the States Attorney’s Office Sexual Homicide Division who testified that on November 17, 2008, she deposed Tyrone Dunbar (witness for the prosecution), who stated during the deposition that William Balfour had a gun on him when Balfour took him to a gas station to get change so that he could buy crack cocaine from Balfour. The prosecution then called Chief Medical Examiner of Cook County, Dr. Mitra Kalekar, considered an expert in the field of forensic pathology and who performed the autopsy of Julian King on October 28, 2008. Dr. Kalekar set the "day of death" of Julian King as October 27, 2008. She testified that there were no signs of rigor mortis and that the body was in the early stages of decomposition. Dr. Kalekar testified that the body had been laying "face down" for a long period of time and that there were two gunshot wounds to the right side of the head. Dr. Kalekar concluded that Julian King died of multiple gunshot wounds by homicide. During the showing of the autopsy pictures of Julian King, defendant Balfour appeared to cry. During the defense cross examination, Dr. Kalekar admitted she could not determine the exact date and time of Julian King’s death but, he was "most likely" shot and killed at the location of the SUV and killed laying face down. She also stated that there was a shower curtain "just laying on top of him." To read entire article: http://www.ladyglenchicagostyle.com/News_related_articles.html

Jennifer Hudson Family Murder Trial (THE PEOPLE VS. WILLIAM BALFOUR)

April 23, 2012 By Ladyglen CHICAGO - The jury trial of the People vs. William Balfour started today in Cook County Courtroom 500 before presiding judge Charles P. Burns. William Balfour is accused of murdering Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, brother Jason Hudson, 29 and nephew Julian King, 7 with a stolen .45 caliber gun belonging to Jason Hudson. During opening statements, the prosecution allege that William Balfour killed the Hudson family members in a jealous rage after Julia Hudson, Jennifer Hudson’s sister and the estranged (at the time of the murders) wife of defendant Balfour started dating another man.

The prosecution stated that Balfour shot Darnell Donerson once in the back and chest, Jason Hudson twice in the head, stole an SUV belonging to Jason Hudson and used it to take Julian King at gunpoint where he was later found shot twice in the head and covered in a shower curtain inside the stolen vehicle. The defense states that DNA found on the murder weapon excludes William Balfour and that there were no gunshot residue found on Balfour’s clothes. The defense goes on to state that Jason Hudson was a full-time drug dealer, dealing in "weights" of "kilos and eight balls," selling drugs at "70th and Yale." After opening statements, the prosecution called their first witness, Jennifer Hudson to the stand. Jennifer Hudson testified that she went to grammar school with Balfour when she lived with her family at the 7019 S. Yale address (site of the murders of her mother and brother). She stated that she never liked Balfour, "not even in grammar school." She furthered stated that she, "Did not like how he treated my sister and I did not like how he treated my nephew."

Jennifer Hudson also testified about the last time she saw her mother, brother and nephew, stating that it was at a gathering at her house in Chicago the weekend before the murders. She stated that it was the first time the entire family came to visit. Her mother Darnell, brother Jason, sister Julia, nephew Julian and even the dog named Dreamgirl. Breaking down crying during testimony she stated, "That was the last time I got to see them. Thank God I got that opportunity." The prosecution called Julia Hudson as their second witness. Julia Hudson was married but "separated" from Balfour since "February 2008." Julia Hudson described how Balfour threatened to "kill" her entire family at least "twenty-five (25)" times since separating leading up to the murders. Julia testified that Balfour told her "I can’t do this without you. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I can’t work." "If you leave me, I’ll kill them first. You’ll be the last to die." "If you leave me, you’ll be the last to die. I’ll kill your family first."

The prosecution went on to play Julia Hudson’s 911 call after she discovered her mother laying dead on the floor as she entered the house the day of the murders. Julia testified she walked in the house and "kept calling mama, mama, mama." She said she then saw her mother laying on her stomach with blood on her arm. She then ran out of the house screaming. The prosecution last witness for the day, Bernice Simmons, a neighbor who lived at 7009 S. Yale testified that she heard "like two" gunshots coming from the Hudson house the morning of the murders but, thought nothing of it because "gunshots" are often heard in "Englewood." Day 2 of the People Vs. William Balfour starts April 24, 2012. Article courtesy of Ladyglen Chicagostyle Online Magazine: http://www.ladyglenchicagostyle.com/News_related_articles.html