娱乐英语新闻:Suspect convicted of murdering family members of U.S. singer Hudson

CHICAGO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Jurors in Chicago Friday found 31-year old William Balfour guilty of the 2008 triple murders of closest relatives of famous American singer Jennifer Hudson.

Balfour faces a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment without parole.

Balfour, who was also Hudson's brother-in-law, was found guilty of shooting the Academy Award winner's mother, Darnell Donerson; brother, Jason Hudson; and seven-year-old nephew, Julian King.

The murders took place more than three years ago in the family's home in Chicago's South Side neighborhood.

Balfour was altogether found guilty on three counts of murder and four other charges: aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Balfour was married to Jennifer Hudson's sister Julia, and according to witnesses had threatened Julia's family members in a heated domestic exchange.

Balfour had allegedly been upset at news that his wife had begun seeing another man and wanted a divorce.

"If you leave me, I'll kill you. I'll kill your family first. You'll be the last to die," Balfour had said to Julia, according to witnesses called by the prosecution.

A few hours before the verdict was announced, jurors had sent out a note stating that they were equally split between a verdict of guilty and not guilty, and had told the judge they needed more time to decide.

Despite the testimony of more than 80 witnesses throughout the trial, no DNA evidence was found linking Balfour to the Hudson murders.

The violent deaths of Jennifer Hudson's family members came about one year after the American Idol singer won an Academy Award for her supporting actress role in the film "Dreamgirls."

Jennifer Hudson had appeared in the courtroom throughout the trial's 11 days of testimony and had also taken the stand as a witness, where she had given a tearful account of her family history and relationship with Balfour.

"None of us wanted her (Julia) to marry him," Hudson said. "We did not like how he treated her."