Jennifer Hudson’s brother-in-law pleads not guilty to family murders

The man accused of killing Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

William Balfour was arrested almost immediately after the bodies of Jennifer’s mum Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson were found at their family home in Chicago in October. The body of Jennifer’s nephew, William’s step-son Jason King was found in an abandoned car three days later.

Balfour was initially held as a “person of interest” and for violation of his probation but later charged with the first-degree murders and home invasion. He entered his “not guilty” plea at Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago yesterday and is set to return to court later this month.

In the wake of the murders, Jennifer set up a charity to help families of other victims of violent crime and has stayed out of the public eye, despite the release of her debut solo album. She was expected to perform at the President Barack Obama’s inauguration yesterday but backed out earlier in the month.