Jennifer Hudson Family Murder Trial: Juror says panel 'took its time' in reaching guilty verdict
(CBS) - A juror in the trial of William Balfour, the man convicted in the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's family members, says the panel took it's time to reach a verdict but came to the right decision.
According to CBS Chicago, juror Jacinta Gholston says she and two other panel members took longer to be convinced of the circumstantial case against Balfour and "needed to see the picture clearer." Jurors said cell phone records helped convince them Balfour committed the crimes.
There was no single piece of evidence that convinced the jury, Gholston told Fox affiliate WFLD. Yet by the time they submitted the verdict, each juror was convinced of Balfour's guilt.
"We definitely did not want to make any mistakes. We certainly did not want to send an innocent man to jail. So we definitely took our time with everything that was presented to come to the correct decision," she told WFLD.
Balfour, the ex-husband of Hudson's sister, killed 57-year-old Darnell Hudson, 29-year-old Jason Hudson and 7-year-old Julian King. Prosecutors believe that Balfour shot the family in a jealous rage because ex-wife Julia Hudson was dating another man.
He was convicted Friday on all seven counts against him, which include three counts of first-degree murder, one count of home invasion, one count aggravated kidnapping, one count residential burglary, and one count possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Balfour, 31, now faces a life sentence in prison.
Complete coverage of the Hudson family murders on Crimesider