( 4UMF NEWS ) Hudson Family Killer Sentenced:
William Balfour, who was convicted by a Cook County jury in May in the 2008 murders of singer Jennifer Hudson‘s mother, brother and nephew, was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Judge Charles Burns imposed three consecutive life sentences for the murders and 120 years for the underlying felonies of home invasion and aggravated kidnapping.
An emotional Burns told Balfour his crimes “send a chill through all of us” and said Balfour’s “soul is as barren as dark space.”
The judge said he was appalled that Balfour would claim to love Julian King, Jennifer Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew who was among the three murder victims.
“The fact that you can stand in court and tell us you love that child is an insult to all of us,” Burns said.
“There’s no doubt in my mind he looked up to you as you were putting bullets into his head,” Burns said in a shaking voice. “I just hope his terror was short-lived.”
Balfour looked at the judge without expression as he spoke.
Before his sentencing, Balfour made a statement to the victims’ family members: “My condolences go out to the family,” said Balfour, who was estranged from Hudson’s sister, Julia, at the time of the murders. “My deepest sympathies go to Julian King. I loved him. I still love him.”
A female member of Balfour’s family burst into tears and ran out of the courtroom after Balfour spoke.
Balfour spoke as he stood at the defense table in a tan jail jumpsuit and looked toward his own family, not at Jennifer Hudson or her family who were seated across the aisle.
Earlier today in court, Julian’s father, Gregory King, sat hunched over on the witness stand and sniffled as he recalled his fun-loving son who enjoyed cartoons and playing with his friends and family.
Jennifer and Julia Hudson both dabbed at their eyes with tissues during the testimony.
