It's taken a long time. But justice for the Hudson family is finally getting served.
Three and a half years after the senseless murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and young nephew, the man charged with the first-degree slayings, William Balfour, has finally been scheduled to stand trial.
Cook County Judge Charles Burns today announced that jury selection for Balfour's trial would begin on April 9. Testimony in the trial is expected to begin on April 23.
Balfour is the estranged husband of Jennifer's sister, Julia Hudson. On Oct. 24, 2008, he allegedly drove in a jealous rage to the Hudson family home in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago and fatally shot the Oscar winner's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.
King's body was found three days later in Balfour's SUV.
Balfour has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion as a result of the slayings. He pleaded not guilty.
Balfour's trial has repeatedly been delayed on the request of his lawyers, and his legal team again sought out a postponement in court this morning, though the judge finally rejected their plea for more prep time and scheduled the trial's start date.
It's about time.