A jury selection will continue on Tuesday in the murder trial involving three family members of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, a day after 14 prospective jurors were chosen. Court officials reported the entire group of 12 jurors and 6 alternates were to get chosen early on Tuesday afternoon. The murder trial comes more than three years after Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew were shot and killed. Hudson’s sister Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour, is accused of killing Hudson’s mother and brother inside their Chicago home in October 2008. The body of Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found three days later inside an abandoned SUV. The 7-year-old child died of a gunshot wound.
Balfour, who was Julian’s stepfather, was charged with one count of home invasion. Balfour was detained for questioning a day after Hudson’s mother and brother were found in the home. At the time, authorities said they were holding Balfour for an unspecified parole violation, but he was indicted for murder two months later. Balfour, who has been portrayed as a jealous man who murdered three people, infuriated at the thought that his wife had a boyfriend, pleaded not guilty to the murder charges, and his lawyer has said in court that there is no forensic evidence connecting Balfour to the killings. Opening statements in the murder case are set for April 23. Judge Charles Burns told the would-be jurors that he expects the trial to last three to four weeks. Hudson is on the witness list and is expected to attend the upcoming trial. In an interview with CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Hudson said, “My mother was a very wise and strong person. I feel like she raised us well, and she prepared me well, and so that’s what I live by.”
