On the third day of the Jennifer Hudson family murder trial, prosecutors are expected to focus on the youngest victim allegedly killed by William Balfour: Julian King.
STORY: Grave Details: Jennifer Hudson Hears Graphic Testimony About Murdered Family
Julian’s abduction and slaying by Balfour will be the focus of the third day of testimony. Hudson’s former brother-in-law, William Balfour, allegedly killed her mother and brother at their Chicago home on Oct. 24, 2008, then drove off with Julian in an SUV. He allegedly shot him in the head as he hid behind the front seat.
Prosecutors Tuesday showed jurors photographs of the bloodied bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother. Hudson left the courtroom before the grisly pictures were projected onto a screen.
Balfour was estranged from his wife, Julia Hudson, at the time of the killings. He has pleaded not guilty to triple murder.
As there were no surviving witnesses to the murders, prosecutors will introduce evidence in the next few days that includes cell phone records and security-camera footage that place Balfour in the area of the killings, since he denies he was there.
Another challenge will be tying Balfour to the alleged murder weapon, a silver and black .45-calibre handgun that sat Monday on a stack of papers at the prosecution table in plain view of jurors and Hudson.
Prosecutors believe Balfour went inside the three-story house around 9 a.m., shot Hudson’s mother in the living room, then shot her brother, Jason Hudson, twice in the head as he was lying in bed.
Investigators allege Balfour then drove off in Jason’s sport utility vehicle with 7-year-old Julian inside, and later shot the boy in the head as he hid behind the front seat.
If convicted of at least two of the murder counts, Balfour would face a mandatory life sentence.
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