Alibi disputed in Hudson murder trial

Alibi disputed in Hudson murder trial

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On Oct. 24, 2008, Chicago police questioned William Balfour at the Area 1 station.

In a video, Balfour said that morning he parked his faulty car near Robeson High School in the Englewood neighborhood. He said he took the “L” and the bus to the West Side. Balfour said he used his CTA 7-day card.

A detective told Balfour he didn’t use the bus card. “They track everything,” he said in the video. “They” is the CTA. Chicago Transit Authority chief investigator James Higgins testified Monday in Cook County Criminal Court that bus cards have unique serial numbers. The investigator said Balfour’s card was not used on Oct. 24.

Balfour is on trial for killing actress/singer Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew. Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were found dead in their home on 70th and Yale. A few days later seven-year-old Julian King’s body was discovered in a SUV on the West Side.

Balfour faces three counts of first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Until recently, Balfour was married to Jennifer Hudson’s older sister Julia.

The jury viewed the video in court on Monday. As two detectives questioned Balfour, he asked “Why am I here?”

Later during the interrogation, Balfour said “they trying to protect they sister,” referring to the celebrity nature of Jennifer Hudson. Balfour said Jason Hudson “created a lot of enemies” with his drug dealing in the house on Yale Street. “It was a drug house,” Balfour said. The defense has tried to the pin the murders on Jason Hudson’s lifestyle. Prosecutors argue Jason only sold dime bags of crack and didn’t deal with weight.

Earlier on Monday, Balfour’s friend Quincy Brown testified about threats. Brown, who is serving federal prison time for gun possession, said Balfour complained about Julia Hudson cheating on him.

“He said how he’d kill that fat bitch,” Brown said.

Brown said Balfour told him he loved his wife but didn’t like being played. The friend also detailed how Balfour would refer to Jason as that “bitch-ass nigga.” On two occasions, Brown said he saw Balfour with the .45-caliber gun, which was used in the murders.

On the afternoon of the murders, Brown said Balfour called him about helping him with the power steering on his car. Brown said on one of the phone calls, Balfour clicked over and when he returned, said his wife was on the other line asking why he killed her mother and brother.

“Why she blaming you of all people?” Brown said he asked Balfour. “Because I got into it with that bitch-ass nigga,” Brown said Balfour replied. In another call, Brown said he asked Balfour how he got to the West Side so quickly. “He said stop asking him all those questions because I’m acting like the police,” Brown testified.

After seeing news coverage of the murders, Brown called Balfour back.

“I boldly asked him if he did it,” Brown said. He said Balfour told him, “It’s bigger than me.”

Meanwhile, the trial is starting to wind down. Judge Charles Burns said jury deliberations may start on Wednesday after closing arguments.