Crimesider
Crimesider
April 11, 2012 11:15 AM

Jennifer Hudson Family Murder Trial: Jurors selected for the trial of William Balfour

By
Crimesider Staff
Topics
Daily Blotter

William Balfour and Jennifer Hudson

/ AP/Cook County Sheriff's Department/Getty Images
(CBS/AP) CHICAGO - Jury selection wrapped up Tuesday for the trial of William Balfour, accused of murdering Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.

The final four panelists were chosen on the second day of questioning of prospective jurors. Among them was a member of an acrobatics group and someone who served on the jury of another murder trial years ago.

The 14 selected earlier to hear evidence against William Balfour included a school teacher, an unemployed bank teller who lives three blocks from court, and a young chocolate-company employee who said her favorite activity outside work was eating and sleeping.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Balfour, 30, wore a blue dress shirt, slacks and a tie, as he watched as nearly 50 potential jurors were questioned by his attorneys and prosecutors during a nine-hour selection process.

Hudson's celebrity took center stage in many juror interviews. Most potential jurors insisted that despite what they knew about Hudson or had heard about the case, they could assess Balfour's guilt or innocence strictly according evidence presented in court. Others were not deemed as impartial.

Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, is accused of shooting to death Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and her 7-year-old nephew, Julian King. Jennifer Hudson is on a 300-name list of potential witnesses and is expected to attend each day of the trial once testimony begins April 23.

Complete coverage of the Hudson family murders on Crimesider



1 Comments +

Follow Crimesider

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
48 Hours 48 Hours for iPad® A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.
CBS News on Facebook

  • 48 Hours iPad App

    Big changes for the 2012-2013 season! Watch the current week's episode for FREE up to a week after it airs or subscribe for access to all shows, classic episodes and more!