William Balfour gets three life sentences for Hudson family murder

A judge sentenced William Balfour to three consecutive life terms, after a jury convicted him of murdering three of Jennifer Hudson’s family members.  Judge Charles Burns, who oversaw the trial, said Balfour’s “soul is as barren as dark space.”

William Balfour sentenced

Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister Julia, killed her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew Julian in October 2008.

During the short trial, Hudson took the witness stand and expressed her harsh feelings for Balfour, who prosecutors’ labeled a jilted husband for his act of vengeance.

The Grammy/Oscar winner attended the sentencing on Tuesday, July 24, dabbing her eyes several times and smiling in disbelief as William Balfour’s past crimes were read out in court.

Balfour, 31, said early in the trial, “My condolences go out to the family. My deepest sympathies go to Julian King. I loved him. I still love him.”

During his reaction Judge Burns contradicted Balfour’s statement, saying “The fact that you can stand in court and tell us you love that child is an insult to all of us. There’s no doubt in my mind he looked up to you as you were putting bullets into his head. I just hope his terror was short-lived.”

He also gave William Balfour additional 120 years behind bars of home invasion and residential burglary.