CHICAGO (RNN) - A jury has convicted the former brother-in-law of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson for killing three of her family members in 2008.
William Balfour, 31, was convicted on three counts of murder for killing Hudson's mother, brother and young nephew Julian.
He was also convicted on one count each of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011. Balfour will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Early in the day Friday, jurors told the judge they were split, but "we are trying."
Speaking after the verdict, jurors said that the process of working through the evidence was slow and methodical.
"We really took everything apart before we started to piece it back together. We really took our time with all of the testimony, the witnesses, one at a time," said juror Paula Halcomb.
"As we tried to piece it together, some people pieced it together a little faster than others, but we were very cordial with each other."
Defense attorneys alleged the case was largely circumstantial and no forensic evidence tied Balfour to the scene.
They say they will appeal the verdict.
As she was when the verdict was read, Hudson was in the courtroom everyday throughout the trial.
"One of the things she said to me [after the verdict was], 'This is my mother. If it were me, my mother would be here everyday. I'm going to be here everyday.' Her celebrity status had nothing to with the fact that she was there. It was the love of her family," said Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alverez.
According to the Association Press, the actress and singer teared up and bit her lip as the verdict was read.
Alverez described Hudson and her family as "emotional, but relieved."
"This verdict can not bring back their loved ones, but we hope it can provide them with a measure of justice and closure," Alverez said.
Jurors said Hudson's presence and celebrity status "had nothing to do with" the conviction.
"This wasn't a case about Jennifer Hudson for us. This was a case about William Balfour," said juror Jacinta Gholston.
"It's unfortunate it was her family, but this was not, for us, the Jennifer Hudson case. This was the people of Illinois against William Balfour."
Hudson did not speak after the verdict. Alverez indicated she would be releasing a statement at a later time.
Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
William Balfour, 31, was convicted on three counts of murder for killing Hudson's mother, brother and young nephew Julian in 2008. (Source: Cook County Jail)
(Source: CNN)
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WSFA, a Raycom Media Station.
