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 Balfour was on parole at the time of the killings after serving nearly seven years for attempted murder and vehicle hijacking 

A prosecutor is expected to tell jurors this today, during opening statements at the trial of William Balfour — charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the Oct. 24, 2008, slayings that generated nationwide headlines because of Hudson’s fame.

The estranged husband of Hudson’s sister, Balfour believed the balloons he saw at the Hudson home came from Julia Hudson’s new boyfriend.

Driving away for her job as a school bus driver, she glimpsed Balfour in her mirror still lingering outside, prosecutors have said.

They say Balfour went back inside the three-story house around 9 a.m. and used a .45-caliber handgun to kill Hudson’s mother, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, in the living room — then shot her 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, twice in the head as he lay in bed.

He allegedly drove off in Jason Hudson’s SUV with Julia Hudson’s son, Julian King, inside.

Authorities say he shot the boy nicknamed Juice Box in the head as he lay behind a front seat. His body was found in the abandoned vehicle miles away after a three-day search.

There are no known witnesses to the slayings, and it’s unclear what physical evidence exists, be it fingerprints or DNA.

Prosecutors say gunshot residue was found on the steering wheel of Balfour’s car. But the defense says that and other evidence is circumstantial.

A gun, which Balfour allegedly stole months before from Hudson’s brother, was recovered in a lot near where the SUV was found and will be presented as the murder weapon.

Establishing motive may pose less of a challenge.

A high-school dropout and one-time Gangster Disciple known by the gang name “Flex”, Balfour allegedly threatened to kill the Hudson family at least two dozen times, starting earlier in 2008 when he moved out of the house, lead prosecutor James McKay has said.

A day before the killings, on Julia Hudson’s birthday, McKay says, Balfour told her, “If you ever leave me, I’m going to kill you, but I’m going to kill your family first”.

She didn’t take him seriously, McKay said, because Balfour hadn’t acted on the threats before.

Court records indicate the now 34-year-old Julia Hudson’s divorce from Balfour was finalized last year.

If convicted of at least two of the murder counts, the 30-year-old Balfour, on parole at the time of the killings after serving nearly seven years for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking, would face a mandatory life sentence.

Jennifer Hudson’s name is among 300 on a list of potential witnesses, though it’s not certain she will testify.

The 2004 “American Idol” finalist and 2007 Oscar winner for her role in ”Dreamgirls” is expected to attend each day of testimony, which could last up to a month.

Judge Charles Burns has instructed jurors to set aside any sympathy for Hudson and decide a verdict strictly according to testimony. The panelists include a teacher, a trucker and two people who have had close relatives murdered.

Prosecutors have said Balfour claimed he wasn’t near the Hudson home at the time of the killing, but they are expected to introduce cellphone records that allegedly prove he was in the area when two teenage girls who live nearby heard gunshots.

The witnesses didn’t immediately report the shots to police because the sound of gunfire isn’t uncommon in the impoverished, crime-ridden Englewood neighbourhood, according to court filings.

The trial is being held in a nearly century-old, oak and granite courtroom where several TV legal dramas have been filmed.

It’s also the same courtroom where R&B singer R. Kelly was acquitted on child pornography charges in 2008.

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Sun May 19 06:37:55 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 23, 2012

dimpho_4U

Prove 27:4 "Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?"........seriously, i'm afraid of any signs of jealousy especially in a man___ mathata feela, in women it develops into ha.te...this is the ugliest thing i've ever seen.
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Apr 23, 2012

CheeseBoy

Balfour was on parole at the time of the killings after serving nearly seven years for attempted murder and vehicle hijacking

nuff said, she knew she was dealing with a nut job. so what did they expect.
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Apr 23, 2012

Iwe

What causes a person to be a monster? is it the enviroment they live in? poverty? no love from parents? not smart enough? Because no one is born that way nje!
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Apr 23, 2012

CheeseBoy

@Iwe
wrong. it has been proven that some people are born without a sense of guilt as to what is wrong and what is right. this guy could very well be one of them.
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Apr 23, 2012

lelam

hau but Jennifers' previous picture has nothing to do with the story mos. Eish mara she looks nice tjo, she danced her butt off literally.
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Apr 23, 2012

dimpho_4U

@cheese,i think you are right...she knew what she was dealing with,never ignore the small signs such as "a person serving 7 years for attempted murder" thinking you'll change them____they'll end up changing you..for the worse
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Apr 23, 2012

Iwe

@ cheeseboy - thats not true. There is no such!
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Apr 23, 2012

candilious

Strange but true these things happen to the best of us.................


Hope the lack of evedence dont concide that this moer get off
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Apr 23, 2012

candilious

@lelam-I think thtas her mom in the pic
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Apr 23, 2012

SeshegoGuY

Modimo!!!
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